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SIX YEARS IN A GEORGIA PRISON. 



NAMATIVE 



OP 



LEWIS W. PAINE, 

WHO SUFFERED IMPRISONMENT SIX YEARS IN GEORGIA, FOR THE CRIMB 

OF AIDING THE ESCAPE OF A FELLOW-MAN FROM THAT STATE, 

AFTER HE HAD FLED FROM SLAVERY. 



WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. 



NEW YORK : 

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, 

1851. 



/^^:!>o 



Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1851, by 

LEWIS W. PAIXE, 

in the Clerk's OInce of the District Court of the United States, fur 

the Southern District of New Vork. 



PKEFACE. 



The reader will find in tlie following pages 
a correct statement of facts, and nothing else. 
E have nothing extenuated, nor set down 
anght in malice ; but truth must be told, for 
it is might}^, and must prevail. Let justice 
be done, if the heavens fall. No creed or 
sect is responsible for what I profess ; no com- 
munity or party for what I write. I alone 
am accountable for the contents of these 
pages ; and if any take exceptions to what I 
have said, they must quarrel with Truth and 
Justice. 

L. W. P. 



NARRATIVE. 



CHAPTER I. 

BIRTH AND EARLY HISTORY. 

I WAS born in the town of Smithfield, Pro- 
vidence County, Rhode Island, on the 11th 
day of January, 1819. On my father's side 
I am the fifth generation from one of three 
brothers, who came from England, and settled, 
I think, in the town where I was born. No- 
thing unusual occurred until the epoch which 
it is the purpose of this narrative to relate ; 
though I now think I was unconsciously re- 
ceiving the discipline which was to strengthen 
and prepare me for the great ordeal. Having 
reached the proper age, I was kept at school 
most of the time, until I was ten years old. 

Being blessed with a retentive memory, I 
soon learned to read and spell with ease. I 
was generally found at the head of my spell- 
ing class, and was always pronounced a good 
reader ; but, notwithstanding this, I was sel- 
dom successful in bearing off the prize. 1 
1* 



6 SIX YEAES IN PRISON. 

was sure to miss a word, on Saturday, and be 
turned down just before the distribution of 
rewards. I remember once, of standing at 
the head, perfectly prepared to spell every 
word, and I felt sure of my primer that time ; 
but my Evil Genius was holding his wand 
over me. I missed the word mislead^ and my 
brother, who was just six years older to a day, 
spelled it, and I lost the prize. I remember 
of gaining only one prize in my whole life. 
Indeed I have always been the child of Dis- 
appointment. When the object of desire has 
been almost within my grasp, some unforeseen 
circumstance has dashed my hope to frag- 
ments ! I have often realized the truth, and 
felt the power, of the follo\N'ing lines : 

" Circumstance : that unspiritual god, 
Or miscreator, makes or helps along 
Our coming evils with a crutch-like rod, 
Whose touch turns hope to dust, — the dust we all have trod." 

When at school, I found no one to compete 
with me in retentiveness of memory ; and 
this power I still retain. Some theatrical 
men with whom I had been boarding a few 
months, were one day discussing the time re- 
quired for learning the part of ^Macbeth. I 
remarked that I couhl do it in nuich less than 
the shortest time mentioned. One of theni 



BIKTH AND EARLY HISTORY. 7 

said that I could not commit a certain fifteen 
lines in one hour. I asked him to point out 
the lines ; then went to work, and in twenty 
minutes the task was done. But there was 
an exception to this power of memory. For 
some reason or other it would not act legiti- 
mately on grammar. I was put to this study 
when about seven years old, and of all hateful 
and detestable tasks I ever had imposed on 
me, this was the worst, — to be compelled to 
drudge through a chaotic mass of unmeaning 
words I The very name of Murray made my 
heart thump like a trip-hammer ; and the 
bare sight of a grammar was to me a greater 
eye-sore than the stolen handkerchief to poor 
Othello. I could always see a reason why 
two and two are four; but the why and 
wherefore of those thirty or forty rules, with 
their thirty or forty exceptions, I could never 
understand. And when a clause occurred to 
which none of the rules or exceptions would 
apply, it was called an "adverbial phrase;" 
and this was the slough into which everything 
troublesome was finally precipitated. The re- 
sult was, that I became disgusted with the 
study ; and never had the heart to return to 
it till I was of age. 

In the spring after I was ten 3^ ears old, my 



8 SIX YEARS IX rRISOX. 

father bound me by a verbal contract to 
Ilorace Paine, a farmer, who lived in the 
town of Bellingham, Massachusetts. I stayed 
with him two years and a-half, and should, 
probably, have staid my time out, had it not 
been for a disagreement with his mother. 
"When I had been with him about fourteen 
months, m.y father died. This caused me the 
most violent grief For months there never 
came a night when my pillow was not wet 
with a shower of tears. The sense of lone- 
liness, of weakness cast back on its own re- 
sources, was terrible indeed. 

When I left Mr. Paine, I went to Cumber- 
land, Rhode Island, and Hved Avith my mo- 
ther till she died, which happened in the 
February after I was fifteen. Dimng that 
time I worked in the factory of Job Jencks 
& Sons. I always loved my mother very 
tenderly ; and if she had any preference 
among her children, I think I was the favor- 
ite. ^\iler I went to live with her, being the 
oldest son then at home, I became her chief 
dependence for help about the house. During 
the short recesses of meal hours, and after 
work at night, I drew the water and cut the 
wood ; and I always kindled her fire in the 
inonnng. ^My mother was a plain, industrious, 



BIRTH AND EARLY HISTORY. 9 

sensible, and good woman ; and she literally 
wore herself out for the comfort and welfare 
of her children. Her death affected me less 
than my father's had done, — why, I know not, 
unless it was because his had been the first 
blow. I can see no other reason for the ex- 
traordinary effect my father's death had on 
me, or for the difference in the two cases. I 
was thrown upon the world too young to know 
the value of a father's protection, or to appre- 
ciate fully the joy and blessing of a mother's 
presence and ministry. 

I remained at the same place about seven 
months, when I had saved money enough to 
support me at school about five months, and 
then went to an academy at South Kingston. 
After my term had expired, I returned to the 
same place, and worked about six months 
more, and then went to Smithfield, and worked 
for Israel Saunders about one year, when I 
had earned money enough to support me for 
a while ; and I then went to school in New 
Hampshire about five months. 

From there I went to my old place in Cum- 
berland, and worked about five months, hav- 
ing, meanwhile, charge of the mule-room. 
From thence I went to Lowell, and having re- 
mained about two months, I went to Taunton, 



10 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

Massacliusetts. There I made the acquaint- 
ance of Jane M. Nelson, who subsequently 
became my wife. In rather less than a year, 
I went to Pawtucket ; but not liking, staid 
only a few weeks, and then went to Bristol, 
Khode Island, where I staid about fourteen 
months. 

In the mean time. Miss Nelson's family re- 
moved to Lonsdale, Ehode Island, where, on 
the 31st day of March, 1839, we were married. 
After this I staid in Bristol about seven 
months, and then went to Fall River, where I 
lived till I went south. Here I worked for 
Theoj^hilus Shove, and had charge of the mule- 
room. 

I left all the different places, wherever I had 
worked, with a good understanding on both 
sides. I never had but one fight in my life, 
which Avas brought about by a man's insult- 
ing me with words which I returned, know- 
ing that he had come out of his house for that 
very purpose, about something which did not 
concern him at all. lie then undertook to 
beat me ; but he got, instead, a very^ severe 
pounding in the public streets of Woonsocket. 
I was never in a diiUculty of any kind in my 
life, until the one which I am about to de- 
scribe. I can be persuaded a long way, but, 



BIETH AND EARLY HISTORY. 11 

at the same time, it is extremely hard to drive 
me a single inch. I am ever touched at the 
sight of want and misery, for I have felt them 
both in my own person. Had I the Avorld at 
my command, I would give the last penny, 
and becom^e as poor as I am now, to banish 
want, suffering, bondage and misery, — could 
it possibly be done. I have always cheerfully 
cast in my mite, — though it has been hut a 
mite — to reheve the distressed. I have given 
my last cent to enable a man to pay his taxes, 
so that he might vote. I have often given all 
I had to the helpless. Once, in Concord, 
New Hampshire, I gave a poor woman such 
a portion of what I had, that I was compelled 
to travel a good part of the way to Rhode 
Island, on foot, and hve on one meal a day. 
This is nothing to boast of, and I do not 
wish it to be regarded in that light ; I have 
simply done as I would wish to be done by, 
and that too much for my advantage, in a pe- 
cuniary point of view. Thus I was, as it 
were, constitutionally prepared to be the 
victim of an irresistible spirit of Love, acted 
upon by a cruel and unrighteous Law. 

But those to whom I have been the occa- 
sion of the most benefit have given me fewest 
thanks. I once took a man in, who came to 



12 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

mj house, perfectly worn out by hard travel- 
ing. He staid till liis feet got well; I had 
his clothes washed, lending him my own dur- 
ing the time. He then turned around and 
berated me soundly to my neighbors, for the 
violence of my political principles, though he 
was a foreigner, and knew no more about 
politics than a horse about Congress. Ano- 
ther time I gave a poor widow liberty to send 
her children to my school free, and afterwards 
hired one of them to work for me by the week, 
and she quarreled with me because I would not 
pay her for a week when the boy could not 
work, on account of the rain. But as it takes 
all sorts of people to make a world, I suppose 
the above arc only certain characteristics of a 
portion of its sojourners. 



CHAPTEE n. 

GOING TO LIVE IN GEOEGIA. 

In the summer of the year 1841, 1 made an 
agreement with D. K. Perry & Co., to go to 
Upson county, Georgia, for the purpose of 
starting and running some machinery in a fac- 
tory. My first intention was to take my 
family ; but, on more deliberate consideration, 
I thought best to go out and stay awhile, and 
see how I liked the country ; so I departed 
alone, to that place which was to furnish a 
living grave for six years of my life. 

About the 1st of September, I left Fall 
Eiver for Georgia, and arriving there about 
the middle of October, immediately com- 
menced work. Here all the modes of life, 
habits, and customs, were marked by a strik- 
ing difference from those of the north. The 
people generally live in very poor houses, 
compared with such as are found here ; but in 
that sultry clime they are far more healthy 
than close and well-built houses would be. 
They are mostly built of logs, and are very 
open and airy. The southern diet is also more 



14 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

conducive to health than ours, consisting 
mostly of smoked bacon, corn-bread, flour, 
rice and garden vegetables, with but very few 
condiments. I was in the very heart of 
slavery ; and the slaves excited my curiosity 
more powerfully than all other things. They 
appeared kind, and ready to do any favor ; 
and when they were thanked and spoken 
kindly to, in return, they felt themselves re- 
warded. As I had grown from youth to man- 
hood with a full conviction that slavery was 
wrong, and as I had heard and read many 
stories, both for and against it, I was deter- 
mined to see for myself, and investigate the 
subject fairly. I had ever been in the habit 
of speaking my mind freely, never shrinking 
from an avowal of my principles on any sub- 
ject ; and I could not feel myself a freeman 
unless I retained this right, uninfringed, at 
all times, and in every place. I therefore 
used to converse on the subject of slavery 
with Mr. Perry's family, and others, wlien it 
came in opportunely. At one time, when the 
discussion became rather warm, Mr. Perry 
told me, that by only making my principles 
known, he could have his house surrounded 
by fifty men within half an hour. I told him 
that fifty times that nu nbor would not change 



GOIXG TO LIVE IN GEORGIA. 15 

ray mind. No person can conceive, and I am 
incapable of expressing, the loathing disgust 
which that remark excited in me, to think that 
in this " glorious land of liberty," there was 
an institution which could not exist with 
freedom of speech ! What an ironical com- 
mentary upon all our boasting is this single 
fact! 

But Mr. Perry, personally, is a very kind 
man ; and he always treated me and my fami- 
ly with respect and kindness ; jet though his 
whole interest inclined him to uphold slavery, 
he was much too shrewd a calculator to pur- 
chase slaves for operative laborers in and 
about his factory. 

I remained in Mr. Perry's employ about 
fourteen months, then sent for my family ; 
and about this time, at the solicitation of the 
citizens, I engaged in school teaching. This 
employment gave me more leisure. I had 
every Saturday to myself ; and as the Justice 
Courts are held on this day for the collection 
of all sums not over thirty dollars, by attend- 
ing them I soon became acquainted with most 
of the people in the county. This afforded a 
good chance to see the practical operation of 
slavery. I have seen it in all its forms, and 
under every condition, from helpless infancy, 



16 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

to helpless old age ; for I made inqiiiries in 
regard to every branch of the subject with 
which I was unacquainted. 

I was once at a Mr. Sullivan's, when he 
himself introduced the subject. I told him 
that it was not for me to quarrel with the 
southern people about slavery, but I would be 
glad if they could see the justice and necessi- 
ty of doing it away — and that I had ever 
thought it wrong, and unworthy of a free 
people. He said that the slaves were well 
provided for, and were better off than the 
factory hands of the north. This was insult- 
ing me over their backs ; and so I gave him 
to understand. I told him that I was one of 
the white slaves of the north, and as he had 
never seen one, he could behold in me a fliir 
and average sample of the class. He attemj^t- 
ed to apologize, though I assured him it Avas 
too late to qualify what he had said. I have 
often heard this remark made at the South by 
otherwise sensible men ; but the assertion is a 
very foolish one, if they would have us infer 
the master's right to hold a slave, from the 
fact of his being well fed. This rule would 
give a right to enslave all who are not so well 
off as the slaves, in respect to bodily comfort, 
under pretext of ameliorating their condition. 



GOING TO LIVE IN GEORGIA. 17 

I was thrown into such close and frequent 
connection with the " pecuhar institution" of 
the south, that I had abundant opportunity to 
observe its pecuHar working principles. 

" Man never is — but always to be — blest." 

These words of Pope have a universal ap- 
plication. In whatever condition a human 
being may be placed, he hopes to better his 
situation, by some real or imaginary improve- 
ment of existing circumstances. To this end 
he is ever on the alert, to turn everything to 
his advantage that may assist in accomplish- 
irrg his desires. None are more keenly alive 
to this object than they who are held in bond- 
aere. As a class none make fewer mistakes in 
their apprehension and appreciation of certain 
points of character ; and therefore none find 
out their real friends sooner than they do. 
Their facilities for information of this kind 
are much greater than one would at first sup- 
pose. Those who are employed in and about 
the house, are always listening to the conver- 
sation of the whites ; and as nothing is ad- 
dressed to them, they naturally conclude that 
there is no intention to deceive them. Thus 
the ability to set an accurate value on what 
they hear, is determined by two causes, their 



18 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

position, by wliicli they are placed so far 
aside as to obtain correct views, and tlieir con- 
dition, Avliicli continually sharpens their in- 
stinctive quickness of perception, into an 
acute appreciation of the facts, in anj^ given 
case. 

Whenever we are in a situation which de- 
mands the assistance of others, we seek 
friends in those who have shown sympathy 
for our misfortunes. Through the above 
means the slave whom I assisted found out 
my feelings and principles ; and for the above 
reasons he applied to me for aid. In this way 
I became connected with an act which de- 
prived me of my hberty, and cost me long, 
weary, bitter years of suffering and imprison- 
ment. 



CHAPTER III. 

SAMSON THE SLAVE. 

In order tliat tlie reader may here be fully 
made acquainted with the person on whose ac- 
count I fell into difficulty, I will give such a 
description of .him as my knowledge may al- 
low. Samson was born in Vii'ginia, and 
lived there until he was about sixteen years 
of age ; he was then sold to some traders, or 
speculators, who brought him to Georgia. 
He was torn from his native State, from home, 
kindred, and friends, and carried several hun- 
dred miles to a land of strangers. He lacon- 
ically described himself as being at the above 
age, " an uncommonly valuable piece of pro- 
perty :" and the truth is evident to all who 
have ever seen him. He told me that he was 
well grown at sixteen, smart and active, in all 
ways. The trader was certain of making a 
great bargain out of him, and promised that 
if he would display all his valuable qualities 
to the best advantage, so as to sell for $1,200 
he would give him twenty-five dollars ; and 
he says that he did so. 



20 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

Physically lie is one of the most powerful 
men I have ever seen. His strongly built 
and massive fi:ame, broad shoulders, exjDan- 
sive chest, brawny hands and arms, and great 
muscular development, gave the power, and 
almost the proportions of a giant. He has a 
keen intelligent eye, and a countenance indic- 
ative of calculation, reflection, and cunning. 
When first brought from Virginia he was sold 
to the Walker family, in Upson county, Geor- 
gia, and had always remained wdth them. 
At this time he belonged to Allen Walker, 
and had become a good blacksmith. Such 
property as he is, however, is quite apt to 
"take wings and fly away." 

I lived two miles from one of his master's 
plantations, and became acquainted with him 
sixteen months after I went to Georgia. He 
drew my attention more than others, from the 
fact that he was a notable slave. He was 
much inclined to listen to conversation while 
in the company of white persons ; and as he 
had a retentive memory, but few things 
escaped his observation. I never had a word 
of conversation with him more than with 
others, until he came and desired me to assist 
him. He was conscious of the wrong he was 
compelled to suffer, and fully aware of the 



SAMSON THE SLAVE. 21 

natural riglits with which, in being created 
Man, he had been inalienably invested by the 
God of Nature. He was unpatient of re- 
straint ; for he felt not only this, but the in- 
dignity of the bonds which coiled their chaf- 
ing fetters around him. Who can conceive 
the anguish of such a mind, imprisoned, 
cramped, deformed, tortured as it was, yet 
fully aware of its right to freedom, develop- 
ment, growth, and the peaceful pursuit of its 
own happiness, according to its own sovereign 
mil and pleasure. It is horrible to think of; 
and if there were but one such in the wide 
world, it were well worth the labors of all 
philanthropy, until that one should be re- 
deemed, and reinstated in the proper posses- 
sion of itself, and all that it may acquire, own, 
love, cherish, and enjoy! What then shall 
we say of the many such — of the thousands, 
and the millions, who are still more deplora- 
bly unconscious of their rights ? This con- 
sciousness certainly increased Samson's mise- 
ry ; for as there is nothing so aggravating as 
the chafing of a raw wound, so with the mind, 
if it is always striking a saw through its 
wounded parts, the agony soon becomes un- 
endurable : and yet even this, with all its tor- 
ture, is better than utter insensibihty, because 



22 SIX YEAl^ IN PRISON. . 

any consciousness of manliood is better than 
the brutish insensibihty which does not feel, 
only because it cannot know. So the great 
argument of content in slavery that is com- 
monly put forth b}^ its defenders, by showing 
its dehumanizing power, furnishes the strong- 
est possible evidence against it. 

This disposition made Samson troublesome 
to his master in various waj's. He felt him- 
self too much of a man to be flogged ; it was 
too degrading ; the very instincts of manhood 
rose against it. He would frequently make 
his escape when he was to be whipped, which 
would excite his master's ansrer bv beinsr de- 
prived of his services. At such times, ^Nfr. 
Walker knew very well that it was of but 
little use to endeavor to catch him, for he 
could outwit both dogs and hunters. He was 
perfectly acquainted with the surrounding 
country, woods, creeks, rivers, and swamps. 
If closely pushed, he could cross a stream, or 
float himself down it upon a log, or in a skiff, 
or plunge into the depths of a miry swamp, 
where pursuit would be impossible. AVlien 
other resources foiled he would jump into a 
bed of Jameson weeds, and rub the leaves 
all over his body ; for this plant would put 
hiiji in a condition like that of the Irish- 



SAMSON THE SLAVE. 23 

man's skunk, that was said to " stink so that 
no man on earth can smell him." 

When he had staid out ^s long as he wished, 
he would send word to his master that he 
would " come in," provided he would not 
punish him. And the master sometimes 
broke his word, in spirit, by whipping him se- 
verely for a trifling fault ; but Samson knew, 
as well as any other person, when he was 
dealt wrongfully by. There was one thing 
his master could never compel him to do, and 
that was to divulge a secret. He would never 
tell anything he had agreed not to tell, nor 
could the most forcible measures wring a 
secret from his breast. He and a fellow slave 
were once whipped very severely to make 
them acknowledge an act of theft ; but they 
held out to the last. I never heard any com- 
plaint against Samson's morality. The only 
complaint was for possessing those qualities 
which are extolled by all men and nations : 
independence of character, and a desire to be 
free in word, thought, and action. 

There was never a word dropped in his 
hearing, relative to freedom, and the free 
States, which he did not treasure up. It is 
astonishing what perfect indifference the 
slaves will assume while hstening to such con- 



24 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

versation as tliey know is not designed for 
them to hear. They will loiter and linger 
about, appearing 16 busy themselves with 
something, so as to catch every word that 
may be of help in carrying forward or execut- 
ing any of their plans. By this means, Sam- 
son had acquired no small stock of informa- 
tion on various subjects. He knew quite too 
much to be valuable ; or, more correctly speak- 
ing, they could not put confidence in his value, 
because he was hable to escape at any mo- 
ment — if not altogether, yet, in such a way as 
to cause much inconvenience to his owner. 
His great bodily strength enabled him to do a 
large amount of work, while, at the same time, 
his mechanical ingenuity gave him the capa- 
city for almost any kind of labor. He had a 
family, owned by his master's brother ; and, 
during one of the periods of his "lying out," 
his wife was whipped for not betraying hhn. 
It might be, in this instance, that she was for- 
saking her father, and cleaving unto her hus- 
band. I do not say that such was the fact ; 
but no one — not even Nathaniel and Allen 
Walker themselves — would have denied that 
they both had more children by their yellow 
mistresses, than by their white wives. And 



SAMSON THE SLAVE. 25 

the most liorrible part of such guilt remains 
to be told. 

I give the story as it was related to me 
by one who had been a near neighbor of 
Nathaniel Walker's for twenty years ; and he 
says that it is as well known as any such fact 
can be known, by the voluntary assertion of 
one of the parties. Nathaniel Walker had a 
handsome yellow woman before his marriage, 
who bore him a fine daughter. This daugh- 
ter was " raised," as they very appropriately 
in such cases term it at the south, as a house' 
servant. At the age of about fifteen, this 
same daughter hore Mm another daughter I 
Here was a child whose father was her grand- 
father, and whose mother was her sister, and 
slavery was the monster tie of this monstrous 
relationship ! Such is that institution which, 
even by religious people, has been defended 
as moral ! It is a poor excuse to say that this 
is only the abuse of slavery. If a physician 
gives me a dose of medicine when I need it, 
it does not follow that I have a right to abuse 
my fellow-men by forcing it down their throats, 
whether they need it or not. So if there are 
persons so constituted as to hold slaves, and 
treat them as human beings, it does not follow 
that it is moral or right; and when once a 
3 



26 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

human being is cliattelized he must follow the 
law of property, and that being the case, the 
good master cannot, under all circumstances, 
secure the comfort and welfare of his slaves, 
any more than he can in all cases control his 
money, or other goods, since they may be 
stolen, injured, or taken for debt ; and in case 
of decease, there is great danger of sale, re- 
moval, and other changes, which the best 
master cannot either foresee, or prevent. 
Thus the condition of a piece of property is 
but a pitiful condition for a human being ; 
and the protection of property, which is the 
strongest safeguard of the slave is, at the 
best, but a sorry and negative kind of protec- 
tion, indeed. AVhere is the person in these 
United States, who would venture, to say, at 
this time, that the slavetrade is either just or 
moral? Yet, one hundred years ago it was 
thought just as moral as slavery is, by many, 
at the present moment, considered. When 
will people call things by their right names ? 



CHAPTER TV. 

ESCAPE OF SAMSON. 

I HAD now tauglit school two years, mak- 
ing over three years that I had been in 
Georgia. My school closed about the first of 
December, 1844. I had made up my mind to 
engage in other business, and among my ar- 
rangements a trip to Alabama was contem- 
plated. While I was preparing for the jour- 
ney Samson applied to me for aid, in an at- 
tempt to gain his liberty. 

His master had called him to account for 
neglecting his work. How far he was to 
blame in this particular instance I do not 
know ; but I do know that the slave was, at 
times, much abused, and indeed always held 
to a rigorous restraint. He was too smart ; he 
knew too much ; his master was in continual 
fear of his escape, and therefore he tried to 
keep him curbed, and prevent his carrying 
out his wishes, by hard work, and hard usage. 
He would whip him for the most trifling 
offenses. He was a very severe man with 
such of his slaves as he did not like, and could 



28 SIX YEAES IN PRISON. 

make their condition as uncomfortable as may 
be conceived. He well understood all tlie 
different modes of enhancing their misery; 
and he had long been in the practice of ap- 
plying them to Samson with peculiar force. 
He would change him from one plantation to 
another ; put him a little while here, and a 
little while there; sometimes near his wife 
and children, and sometimes away from them ; 
now under this overseer, now under that. In 
short, he harassed him till he could endure it 
no longer, and he came to the conclusion to 
make a trial for his libert}-; so at the time 
when his master undertook to whip him, 
which was in the latter part of 1844, he broke, 
and ran away. No one knew where he was, 
except a trusted few of his fliithful companions. 
He kept hid during the day, only venturing out 
at night, in order to procure necessary sup- 
plies. He was out about three months before 
he came to me. 

Those who are not acquainted with southern 
life will think this strange. But it not unfre- 
quently happens that they sta}' out for years 
in that way. There are large tracts of land, 
covered with heavy timber, containing not 
only deep and almost impenetrable swamps, 
but caves, holes, shelving rocks and banks. 



ESCAPE OF SAMSON. 29 

In these they secrete themselves during the 
day-time, venturing abroad only by night, in 
pursuit of food, and such articles as they may 
need, or to see those of their brother slaves 
whom they can trust. If they intend to 
"stay out" long, they prepare some way to 
cook, and by taking fowls, and once in a while 
a pig, they make out very well ; for they can 
get as many potatoes, and as much corn, as 
they wish. But if they are not going to tarry 
long, they depend on such things as they 
can get, or others may give them. Still, they 
suffer much at times through fear of being 
caught; for when there seems to be much 
danger they will keep close, and go without 
eating for several days. 

I was in the practice of going to a debating 
society about two miles from home, and as 
I returned from this late at night, about 
the middle of March, and was turning my 
horse into the lot, some one called to me. I 
asked who was there ; and as soon as I spoke, 
Samson came up to me. I was surprised to 
see'him ; for no one, to my knowledge, had 
either seen or heard from him, since he made 
his. escape. He told me his grievances, and 
asked me to assist him in gaining his liberty. 
I answered him that I was sorry for his mis- 
3* 



30 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

fortunes, and would do anything whicli lay in 
my power ; but that it was dangerous busi- 
ness, — that all advantages were for him, be- 
cause I could gain nothing, and all dangers 
for me, because he could lose nothing. But 
he seemed to think there was no danger. He 
then tried the power of earnest pleading, and 
I shall never forget his noble and manly bear- 
ing, his imj^assioned gestures, and his eloquent 
speech, as he stood up there, demanding, as 
it were, himself^ at my hands ; and a true re- 
presentation of him would be such a picture 
as no mere imagination ever conceived. 

"I am tired of life," he said. "I have 
lived only to be tormented ! I want my free- 
dom ! I want to taste of liberty ! — to know 
that I am a freeman — a max — so that I can hold 
up my head in the sight of the world, and 
not feel bowed down, and crushed — fit only 
to go Avith dogs ! I will not be a beast, to be 
threatened for this, flogged for that; to be 
driven here and kicked there. I want to feel, 
to think, and to act like a man ! Let me 
learn, and do, and act, and work for niA^self ; 
have my own time, and my oanti money. I 
will not be a slave ! A slave can't be any- 
body, if he tries. There is nothing like 
liberty! My time, my money, mj'self; all I 



ESCAPE OF SAMSOK. 31 

get, and aU I am,— mine, MINE FOEEYEE! 
What ! a Feeemai^ ! a FEEE MAN ! You 
will bless the day you got all this for me ! 
Will jou do it ? You can't refuse. I will 
have my liberty, or I will die !" 

Who could refuse ? Here was one asking 
aid to be a man ! Here was an appeal, not 
only to my love of freedom, but to my sense 
of right, made and urged with more eloquence 
than that of Cicero and Demosthenes com- 
bined ; for every word contained a volume of 
thought. His lacerated heart spoke in every 
word, while the scorched and burning soul 
gave a terrible power to the truth! His 
eloquence was wrung out from the tortures of 
a crushed but still conscious and noble hu- 
manity ! Could his master have stood in my 
place ? — no ; could he have stood in his own 
place, but within sight and hearing, and have 
listened to that heart-gushing appeal, and the 
deep pathos of that speech, he would have 
melted ! He could not have refused to let 
him go, and be a man ! H he could have 
done so, he must have had the insensibility of 
a brute, or the wanton malice of a demon. 

My nature was not proof against such 
pleading. It came home to all my profes- 
sions and principles. I told him that I would 



32 SIX YEARS IX PRISOX. 

consider the matter, and if I saw a reasonable 
chance, I would do all I could for him ; and 
in a week from that time he might come and 
I would let him know my mind. 

I took the matter home to my own breast, 
asking myself what I should, in a like case, 
want another to do for me. I thought it 
would be but taking that which God gave to 
me and all other men, and which no man, nor 
any combination of men, can have power to 
touch — the natural freedom of limb and soul. 
This can only be done by despotic power, and 
the law that " might gives right." I may be 
told that it is against the law. Then I 
say that no set of men have any right to 
make such laws for enslaving the blacks, more 
than the whites. 

After La Fayette had assisted in procuring 
the freedom of this nation, and was endeavor- 
ing to liberate France, he was shut up in 
prison, because the Austrian Emperor said, 
" est venu puhlier la lilem aux ccqiitifi"^ And 
the imperial despot was as well armed with 
laws as any of the despots of this country — 
laws which made it illegal and criminal to at- 
tempt to set his caj^tive free. Yet, did not 
two Americans become heroes in this country 

* He is come to publish liberty to the captives. 



ESCAPE OF SAMSON. 33 

and villains in Austria, by risking tlieir lives 
in order to liberate him from Olmutz ! 
Would not tlie man liave become almost a 
second Kapoleon wlio could liave delivered the 
emperor from the rock-hold of his island prison ? 
Yet, the captors of La Fayette and Napoleon 
had as good a right to them as the master has 
to his slave — nay, better ; for they acted some- 
what on the ground of self-defense ; but slavery 
is nothing but downright and sheer aggres- 
sion, from the beginning to the end ! It is 
absurd to say that those men, or any others 
similarly situated, were not slaves. They 
could have been made so at any time, by an 
act of government ; for surely, if the right to 
enslave may be held by one government, it 
may also be held by another ; and if it may 
be applied to one class of men, it may, with 
equal propriety, be applied to every other; 
or do Republicans arrogate to themselves the 
" bad eminence" of special privilege to chat- 
telize their fellow-men, of being parties in 
that infamous relation which, while it de- 
grades the slave, is a thousand-fold more de- 
grading, dehumanizing, demonizing, to the 
enslaver ? And would it not appear so ; for 
do we not cry out against oppression every- 



34 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

where else, wlietlier in Poland, Greece, Ire- 
land, or Ilungary ? 

But I am wandering from the main subject. 
After having talked with Samson, I con- 
sidered the chance of being able to carry the 
scheme into execution. As I was going to 
Alabama, I thought I could take him with 
me without exciting suspicion, provided we 
were not seen by any one who knew us ; and 
there seemed to be a fair prospect of success. 
At the appointed time, he came to learn the 
result of my deliberations, and was informed 
of my decision. 

I found him unshaken ; his mind was unal- 
tered ; and he was prepared to risk all for li- 
berty. He was full of joy and thankfulness, 
repeatedly saying, " I knew you would help 
me I This is the happiest moment of my hie ! 
I love my wife and children ; and I love all here 
that are near and dear to me. These old hills, 
and farms, and friends, are all dear, and it is 
hard to give them up ! Yes ; my wife and 
children, it is hard to see them no more, but I 
hope I may yet see them free. AVhy should 
I wish to see them again under the curse of 
slavery? Liberty, freedom, is dearer than all ; 
yes, dearer than life itself!" 

This was on Thursday, the 27th day of 



ESCAPE OF SAMSON. 85 

March, 1845. I told liim to meet me on tlie 
following Monday night, in the next county ; 
and it was agreed that I should start on that 
day, and travel till I came up with him. 

On the 81st day of March I took leave of 
my family, and about the middle of the day 
set off on my perilous journey. It was about 
midnight when I overtook Samson, and we then 
started on our mission of hberty, not know- 
ing what might be the result, yet hoping for 
the best. Before morning we Avere far enough 
not to be known by those who lived along 
the road ; and I thought best to put a bold 
face on the matter, and travel right on, as 
though the slave belonged to me. The point 
of our destination was the Cooza Kiver, in 
Alabama, and there my agency was to cease. 
He possessed ways and means to forward him 
from there to a free State. What those means 
were, or how he came into possession of them, 
it is neither proper nor necessarj^ for me to 
state ; but a cruel and relentless destiny sub- 
verted all our aims, — 

" For Disappointment marked us for its victims, 
And Hope smiled only to deceive." 



CHAPTER Y. 

THE ARREST. 

"I speak not of men's creeds, — they rest between 
Man and his Maker; but of things allowed, 

Averred and known, and daily, hourly seen, 
The yoke that is upon us doubly bowed. 

Yet, Freedom ! yet, thy banner, torn but flyiiig, 
Streams like a thunder-storm against the -wind. 

Thy trumpet voice, though broken now and dying, 
The loudest still the tempest leaves behind ! 

Thy tree hath lost its blossoms, and the rind, 
Chopped by the axe, looks rough and little worth ; 

But the sap lasts ; and still the seed we find 
Sown deep, ev'nin the bosom of the North : 

So shall a better spring less bitter fruits bring forth." 

ChUde Harold. 

Nothing of interest liappened until the 
third morning, Avlien I was roused by a clamor 
on tlie outside of tlie house, caused by two 
men who w^erc tying Samson. As soon as 
they had effected this, they came into the 
house, with pistols and dirks, and commanded 
me to surreuder. By this time, three more 
rode up on horseback, with shot guns. I saw 
that resistance was useless, as I was entirely 
unarmed. . They shouted, and yelled like a 



THE ARREST. 37 

band of Indians over a captive. JSTone of 
them were citizens of Upson County ; but 
they had seen ns pass, and the hope of re- 
ward had sharpened their suspicions. They 
therefore had pursued us for the sake of re- 
ward, and to gain popularity. One of them 
was a Methodist preacher, and another a 
church member ; yet these men, regardless of 
their professions of brotherly love, and peace 
and good will to men, racked their brains for 
abusive epithets with which to insult me. 
They treated me in the most low, vulgar, and 
brutal manner during the whole of our back- 
ward journey. They took especial pains to 
stop at every crowd they saw, feigning busi- 
ness, or under pretense of making inquiries 
of some kind or other about a dead aunt or a 
live dog. One would have thought that they 
were secretaries of the interior ; for they had 
to know and see the " interior" of all places, 
and all crowds. After I had got tired of 
this exhibition, I rode on whenever they 
stopped to show me up. They commanded 
me to stop. I told them I did not deal in 
humbug, and I thought they had better quit 
their show-trade. After this they took less 
pains to exhibit their prey. 

In the course of the day they were quite 
4 



38 SIX YEARS IN PRISOX. 

■watclifiil of myself and Samson, in order to 
prevent our holding any conversation. They 
bound him at first ; but as he could not walk 
fast enough, in that condition, they concluded 
to loosen his bonds. I was determined to let 
him take his own course. He walked on till 
he came to thick woods on both sides of the 
road ; and while they were engaged in con- 
versation he darted into the woods, and no 
one saw him. They sent about two miles for 
track dogs ; but Samson knew what he was 
about, and what course to pursue. They 
searched round for about two hours, but all 
to no purpose ; and then, in great chagrin, 
they remounted their horses, and we pursued 
our way. 

But the last night we stopjoed on our jour- 
ney they made up for all, and capped the 
clii'iiax. They took me to a private drinking 
house, collected a crowd, set out liquor ; and 
all at once fell to drinking, shouting, boasting, 
talking of the gallows, threatening to hang 
me, and firing pistols. All this was done on 
the Sabbath, and under the especial benedic- 
tion of the smooth-faced ^lethodist parson, 
and at least one church member. 

At length the old man of the house com- 
menced firing at a mark. He said lie was prac- 



THE AEREST. 89 

ticing so tliat lie miglit be sure to hit me if I 
should run. He finally came into the house, 
half drunk ; and after flirting around, cocked 
his pistols, took aim at me, and asked the others 
if they thought he could hit me. He said he 
had a good mind to try, just for the fun of the 
thing. While going on in this way he fired 
off one of the pistols. The ball passed close by 
me, struck a stone in the fire-place, glanced, and 
hit my arm. Now all this might have been 
done accidentally ; but it looked to me very 
much like an accident done on purpose ; and 
though it might have been fun to them, it 
was not such fun as I had been in the habit 
of indulging in. But then in the Avorst event, 
there stood the good preacher, to mumble over 
the funeral service, and sanctify the murder ; 
so it was not to be expected that he should be 
found guilty of wrong. 

The old man, however, was at last per- 
suaded to put up his pistols by the kind- 
hearted preacher, who afterwards boasted of 
saving my life. Wonderful mercy ! to save 
that which, if his own words were true, and 
his abuse correct, was a disgrace to all the 
world, and a curse to me ! The landlord 
swore that I should not have a mouthful to 
eat in his house, so I had to go to bed supper- 



40 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

less, though I had not eaten anything since 
morning. 

After they were fairly tired down with their 
carousal, they prepared to retire, if the pack- 
ing of half a dozen in a very small room can 
be so called. They displayed as great brav- 
ery, and as much vigilance, as the sentinels 
who guarded the French Emperor on Helena ; 
for they called in five men and one woman, to 
sleep in the same room with me. After plac- 
ing all the chairs and tables in the room 
against the door, they ventured to lie down; 
and watching by turns, they managed to keep 
their dangerous prisoner through the night. 
But the old man was greatly surprised to find 
me there in the morning. I suppose he ex- 
pected I should escape by some witcher}^, or 
jugglery, for when he woke he bawled out, 
" Hello ! You is there, is youP^ 

" I am safe," said I. 

"Well," he returned, "it is more than I 
expected. I did not believe there was enough 
men in the house to keep you." He said 

he thought the d d Yankees were like 

fleas, hard to put your finger on, and still 
harder to hold. 

I told him it was not the first time the 
Yankees had been belied, and I hoped he 



THE AEREST. 



4:1 



would have a better opinion of them in fu- 
ture. 

They had all drunk too much liquor to get 
up till about breakfast tima "When the meal 
was ready, the preacher got the old man to 
give me a biscuit, and a cup of milk, which 
somewhat relieved my faintness; and after 
we had done eating, or rather they — for mine, 
being a short horse, was soon curried — we 
started on our last day's journey. 

As there were but three men to accompany 
me on that day, the landlord thought I should 
not be safe unless I was bound. So he took 
a bed-cord, and wrapped me up like a bundle 
of hay. So completely was I bound, that 
I could scarcely sit on my horse; and it 
was with the greatest dificulty that I could 
breathe. We had not proceeded a quarter of 
a mile before they had to cut off the rope ; 
but their fears had been so excited by the old 
man, that they were extremely apprehensive 
about the result. They need not surely have 
been much afraid; for three, with shot-guns 
and side-arms, ought to have been able to 
keep a single unarmed man with perfect ease, 
and safety to themselves ; and I know they 
could not have been such fools as to believe 
other mse. But they probably thought I 
4* 



42 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

might fall from my horse, or he might get 
frighteued and fall down, or in some way 
throw me off, and hurt me, so they tied my 
feet to the stirrups! Or they might have 
done all this merely to harass me — who 
knows? But at any rate their pains were 
superfluous. 

Nothing worthy of note occurred on our 
last day's journey, until we got within three 
miles of Thomaston, which is the county seat 
of Upson County. Here they must stop to 
get something to eat ; but I soon learned that 
they had another object in halting, which was 
to dispatch a herald, for the purpose of an- 
nouncing our arrival, and requesting an extra 
guard to escort us into town. After finishing 
our meal we proceeded on our way, till we 
came within a mile of Thomaston, where we 
again halted, to wait for the arrival of the 
extra train. They soon came up ; and fore- 
most among them was Burrill Richards, who 
wished to gain notice by exulting over a fallen 
foe — as he thought — and abusing one who 
could not help himself, though he wished to 
attribute it to another cause, in which he was 
pleased to consider that I had acted a vindic- 
tive part, by swearing in order to uphold 
a poor man's oath. The plaintiff in this case 



THE AEEEST. 43 

had prosecuted Mr. Richards' father-in-law for 
stealing hogs, and actually convicted him of 
it, years afterward. I shall refer to this case 
again, and show the difference between the 
proof of guilt in the two cases. This was a 
pretty strong hint that I could swear as I 
pleased, if it only agreed with him. So he 
wished to make it appear that I was his ene- 
my. I had always regarded his father-in- 
law, and family, as very excellent, kind, and 
worthy people ; but as for himself I had never 
either liked, or disliked him. I told him that 
I had been fortunate enough to find my testi- 
mony, in the case referred to, corresponding 
with that of the most worthy men in the 
county, though theirs had followed mine, and 
that I could not barter my principles, let alone 
my oath, for the fear or favor of any one. 

The herald who preceded us, spread the 
news so efiectually, that the people had gath- 
ered from all quarters by the time we got into 
town ; and for once I was the " observed of 
all observers," though I do not know that I 
had altered very materially from my general 
looks and appearance. There were some 
honorable exceptions to this gazing and star- 
ing; for there were those, even there, who 
had not sunk so low as to gloat over one in 



44 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

misfortune, whose feelings tliey knew to be 
sufficiently lacerated without their intrusion. 

In order to prevent common sympathy 
from being extended to me, when J. J. Gary, 
Esq., wished to ask me a few questions in 
private, they raised a cry that there was a 
plot for my escape. When we stepped into 
his office they kindled fires around it, in order 
to see me if I came out ; for it was by this 
time quite dark ; but they were destined to 
be false prophets. After this the sheriff came 
into the office and arrested me, and a Justice 
Court was called. This Court has power to 
commit in any case ; but how to establish the 
proof sufficiently to hold me, was the next 
point. Samson's escape was an ugly feature 
to be got over, somehow. 

The Constitution of the State of Georgia, 
Article 3d, Section 1st, Clause 6th, expressly 
declares, that, " the Superior Court shall have 
exclusive jurisdiction in all criminal cases, 
which shall be tried in the county where the 
crime was committed." The last clause of 
that part of the Constitution which I have 
quoted, had to be proved, before they could 
hold me legally. They must show that I had 
committed a crime in the county. No man 
can be held for trial till somethimj is proved 



THE ARREST. 45 

against liim. It was not in their power to 
show that I ever saw the slave. 

To make this plain, I will suppose a case. 
A man in this city loses a watch. It is gone 
for months ; and all this time I am not in 
the least suspected. But I go to Albany ; and 
on arriving there, a man who has read an " 
advertisement of the lost watch, sees me with 
a watch and arrests me. But while bringing 
me back to N"ew York, he loses the watch. 
He comes on, however, and when the court is 
called, he is brought in for a witness. He 
gives a description of the watch which he 
found in? my possession, and this is all that he 
can do. ISTow, I ask, what his testimony is 
worth ? He had never seen either the watch, 
or its owner, before, in his life. "Would the 
loser of the watch dare to stand up, and swear 
that that watch was his, and that I had stolen 
it ? This precisely illustrates my case. 

There have frequently been cases where 
men have refused to swear to property, even 
when it was theirs, and brought into court be- 
fore their own eyes. The celebrated case of 
Emmett, where a man was prosecuted for steal- 
ing gold coin, was one of this kind. The pro- 
secutor said he could identify the coin by 
certain marks. Emmett had some of his own 



46 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

marked in the same way, and carelessly tak- 
ing tliem from his pocket, he mixed them 
with the stolen ones, and then called on the 
man to identify his coin. He failed to do it, 
and the case was thrown out of court. 

There was a case lately tried in this State, 
where they failed to produce a half dollar, 
which a man was charged Avith counterfeiting ; 
and for that reason the man was discharged. 
In both these cases the property was found 
upon the men ; and in one case it was brought 
into court before the owner's eyes ; and still 
he would noi attempt to claim it ; but then 
his scruples had not been frittered away by 
any connection with that remorseless "insti- 
tution" which paralyzes every nerve of moral 
sensibiUty and murders Conscience. How dif- 
ferent was this from the course which my 
prosecutor pursued, who swore that I was 
guilty, though he had not seen his property 
for months, and had no other evidence that I 
had stolen it, than the fact that property of the 
same kind was found in my possession. 

But let me here state a case which was tried 
in the same county where mine was ; for this 
will show how law and justice are adminis- 
tered in Georgia. It is the same one to which 
allusion lia& already been made. A weahhy 



THE ARREST. 47 

individual had stolen the hogs of a poor man, 
and was prosecuted for it. The owner, and 
three of his brothers, went into court, and 
swore that they found the hogs in possession 
of the defendant. The magistrate asked the 
witnesses if they could swear, without reser- 
vation, that the hogs belonged to their bro- 
ther ? They said they had always seen them 
at their brother's house ; he always claimed 
them ; every one said they were his ; and 
that they were the same hogs that he now 
swore were his. The magistrate said that he 
did not see sufficient ground to hold the pri- 
soner, unless they would swear they saw him 
buy and pay for them. So he discharged the 
prisoner. Let every one contrast these cases 
with mine, and draw his own conclusions. 

But let it also be kept in mind that, in the 
first place, they had to prove that I had com- 
mitted the crime ; and in the second place, 
that it had been done in the county. It was 
not in their power to do this. No one knew 
where I overtook Samson, nor how I came by 
him, nor indeed if he really was the slave 
found in my possession. I had never been 
seen with him in Upson ; and no one that 
saw him in my possession, ever saw him in 
the possession of any one else. And further- 



48 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

more, tlie slave was not to be found, and 
therefore could not be identified in court. 
But then something must be done. Some 
plan must be adopted to hold me. 

When those men were called who arrested 
me, they gave a description of the slave, and 
swore that they found him in my possession. 
His owner, Allen Walker, then went on the 
stand, and swore that the slave was his pro- 
perty, and that I stole him from Upson. 
How did he know that the slave described 
was his ? He had not seen him for months ; 
and he did not know Avhether he was dead or 
alive. Was there one particle of proof going 
to show that I had Walker's slave ; or any 
other than presumptive proof that he was not 
my own, bought and paid for with my own 
mone}^ ? And yet this was all, and the only 
evidence they could produce! The veriest 
simpleton cannot fail to see that any court 
governed by law or justice, could not possibly 
commit on such grounds ! And any man, 
who is careful of his own integrity, or has 
the least respect for truth, would have seen 
the danger of swearing as he did, and have 
felt that he had perjured himself He did 
perjure himself most wickedly ; for guilt lies 
not in the act, but in the intention, lie 



THE AEREST. 49 

meant to swear just as he did ; but it was 
about a tbing wbicb be did not know ; and if 
it happened to be true, the truth did not 
change or lessen his guilt. If I shoot at a 
man with an intention to kill, the failing to 
hit him does not lessen my guilt. In a moral 
sense I am as guilty as if I had killed him, 
although the law will not try me for murder. 
And though he shot at me with prejudice 
and malice in his oath, and though that oath 
chanced to be true, yet, without his knowing 
this, he was just as guilty as if he had sworn 
to an absolute falsehood, because an oath, to 
be valid, and therefore just, or innocent, 
must be based on absolute knowledge of the 
fact sworn to ; and when not so based, it is 
perjury, and can be nothing else. Such are 
the means by which the " peculiar institution" 
is supported ! Here was the claimant of a 
slave permitted to perjure himself in the most 
bold and daring manner, while the court, by 
its countenance, aided, sustained and upheld 
him in that perjury ; and by committing on 
wholly insufficient and untenable grounds, 
were guilty of an outrage against the Consti- 
tution of the State, against common law, 
and against the peace, happiness and liberty 
6 



50 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

of an indi\ddual, whose dearest rights, through 
their violated sanctity, had been infringed. 

Had the slave been brought into court, 
they could then have held me lawfully. That 
would have been sufficient testimony to 
have bound me over for trial. I do not 
see how a man can be deprived of his liberty, 
or held at all, until something is proved 
against him ; and nothing that was there 
brought forward, could be, for one moment, 
considered proof by any person of common 
sense, and it only shows how ready they were to 
perjure themselves by virtually violating their 
sacred oaths of office, for the single purpose of 
upholding the public and common iniquity. 
Allen Walker, as I have already shown, did 
not, and could not, know that I had his slave, 
or that I had ever seen him since he ran away. 
They who arrested me only knew that I had 
a slave, without knowing how he came into 
my possession, or what had been his previous 
relations. 

I had no defense to make, but to take 
exceptions to such evidence. My counsel 
thought best not to do even that ; for, from 
the excitement that was prevailing, he doubt- 
less saw that if they would hold me on such 
grounds, by a strenuous defense they would 



THE AKREST. 51 

be still more excited to retain their hold, 
however convincing his arguments might be. 
He advised me to lie in jail until the sitting 
of the Superior Court. So by these unjust 
and unlawful means, I was bound over to the 
Superior Court in the sum of two thousand 
dollars. On the 8th day of March, I was 
committed to jail, to await the higher court 
which was to convene on the second Monday 
of the August following. 



CHAPTER YI. 

IMPKISOX:^rEXT IX JAIL. 

" Brightest in dungeons, Liberty ! thou art ; 
For there thy habitation is the heart, — 
The heart which love of thee alone can bind ; 
And when thy sons to fetters are consigned, — 
To fetters and the damp vault's dayless gloom, 
Their country conquers in their martyrdom !" 

Prisoner of Chillon. 

It was mj misfortune to be placed under 
tlie charge of one of tlie worst men in tlie 
world, an avaricious, vindictive, and heartless 
person. He possessed no more magnanimity 
than a wolf; and being as nearly as possible 
without feeling himself, he could have little 
respect for the feelings of others. I do not 
bear this testimony alone ; for I never saw 
any person under his charge, who did not 
execrate his very name. What made my case 
worse than it would otherwise have been, he 
acted in the double capacity of jailer and 
sheriff; so I had no one to complain to but 
the Inferior Court ; and I thought that in even 
that would be found too low a sense of just- 



IMPRISONMEN-T IN JAIL. 53 

ice to set me right. I had just had a specimen 
wherewith to gauge the sense of right in one 
court, and I was not over anxious to throw 
myself upon the mercy of another. There 
seemed to be little probability of gaining any- 
thing by complaint, and it might be the means 
of provoking even worse treatment. 

I well knew that the sheriff could break 
the spirit of the law in every particular, and 
would not fail to do it, if I had him censured. 
The eighth division of the Penal Code, article 
II., section iii., contains the punishment of 
jailers for cruelty, in the words following: 
" If any jailer be guilty of willful inhumanity, 
or oppression to any prisoner under his care, 
or custody, such jailer shall be punished by 
removal from office, and imprisonment and 
labor in the penitentiary, for any time not less 
than one year, nor longer than three years." 
The law thus defines the jailer's fees for 
" Dieting a prisoner per day, allowing two 
pounds of bread, one and a-half pounds of 
beef, or one pound of pork, with a sufficiency 
of water, all good and wholesome provisions, 
66J cents." The above extracts may be 
found in Hotchkiss' Statute Law of Georgia, 
p. 904 ; and on the 854th page of the same 
digest, we find the formula of the jailer's oath 



5-i SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

of office. Ilere is tliat of my jailer, " I 
Samuel Carraway, do solemnly swear, that I 
will ^ycll and truly do and perform, all and 
singular, the duties of jailer for the county of 
Upson, and that I will humanely treat all cri- 
minals who may be brought to jail." 

Now let us see how he fulfilled the aboye 
duties, and how he kept his oath. He fed me 
on the coarsest food, the fattest outside of 
bacon; and the corn bread often contained 
the print of other teeth than mine. lie 
brought this only twice a day, often not 
more than once a day ; and on a single occa- 
sion — it was the Fourth of July — not at all. 
I suppose he was afraid I should celebrate the 
great anniyersary of American Liberty if 
he allowed me my scraps of dried bread 
and rusty bacon! He kept the jail in the 
most filthy manner. It was not once, swept 
while I was there. He would neither sweep 
it himself, nor get me a broom to sweep it 
with, although the law, as set forth by the 
aboye authority, demands that the jail shall 
be kept clean, under a penalty of $500. The 
law does not say that he shall bring the pris- 
oner's meals three times a day, nor e^■en twice 
a day ; but that is its spirit. If he had giyen 
me seyen pounds of bacon, fourteen hounds 



IMPRISONMENT IN JAIL. 55 

of bread, and a barrel of Avater once a week, 
he would certainly have given me the full 
measure of my weekly allowance ; but that 
would nit have been what the law intended. 

Shortly after I went to jail there was a man 
put in for debt ; and as he knew me well, he 
preferred to stay with me for the sake of com- 
pany ; but Carraway could not endure to al- 
low me this small enjoyment longer than a 
week. The measure of his benevolence could 
not reach so far. He ordered the man out ; 
and after he went to his room Carraway fol- 
lowed, and told him the people would talk 
about his staying with such a man as I was. 
Company of any kind was too much pleasure 
for him to allow me. There is a parallel to 
this in the jailer who killed Bonnivard's pet- 
ted mouse in Chillon, because the poor little 
wretch was a kind of miserable comfort to 
him ! 

The meat he furnished was so very fat and 
rusty, that I proposed to exchange it for mo- 
lasses ; which I effected by a hint that such a 
course would be the cheapest for him. He 
was ever alive to this sense ; and so he 
brought me a gallon of molasses, which lasted 
nearly a month. I think he was too stingy 
ever to have fattened that bacon ; but he 



56 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

could well afford to fat several hogs from the 
profits he made from my imprisomnent. 

Let any one conceive, if he can, what my 
sufferings were during the suminer of 1845, 
which was the hottest and dryest ever known. 
The water would become so warm in half an 
hour that it was sickening to drink; yet I 
could have no exchange for fresh ! And this 
man, who could not give me a drop of water 
to cool my parched and burning tongue, was 
a member of a Methodist Church ! The more 
pity for them, to have such villains among 
them ! — ^the more shame for them that they 
do not repudiate such unworthy members. 
No one possessing the common feelings of 
humanity, to say nothing of Christianity, 
would have left a dog to suffer as I did. But 
he never was guilty of humanity, and as for 
benevolence he was innocent of all such emo- 
tions as the child unborn ; and one who would 
accuse him of it, must be malicious indeed. 

It is imposssible to conceive what I went 
through during those five months ! Decency 
forbids me to mention the disgusting filth 
which he allowed around the jail, and which 
annoyed me beyond measure. lie took pleas- 
ui'e in causing me every picksniflin trouble 



IMPRISONMENT IN JAIL. 67 

lie could ; and my situation was one of most 
intense anxiety, and bodily suffering. 

There are some circumstances which took 
place while I was in jail, the date of which I 
cannot precisely fix. About the middle of 
April my wife and children came to see me, 
and remained several hours. I have never 
seen my children since, but shall avail myself 
of the first moment after being able to do 
something for them. My wife came to see 
me once after that — about the middle of May 
— and I shall never see her again on earth. 
The cruel treatment that fell on me, had, at 
least, one victim ! 

The next day after I was confined, I wrote 
to Dr. J. M. Aldrich, and also to one of my 
brothers. I received several letters from each 
of them. I wrote to Aaron "White, Esq., of 
New Boston, Connecticut, and to L. Lapham, 
Esq., of Fall Eiver, Massachusetts. They 
gave me much good counsel ; and Mr. Lap- 
ham would have come on to Georgia to de- 
fend me, had it not been in the sickliest sea- 
son of the year. In the letters I wrote them 
they were given to understand the case as 
well as might be without the particulars ; but 
I wrote Mr. Lapham a tolerably full account 
of it. Theophilus Shove & Co. sent me testi- 



58 SIX YEAES IX PRISON. 

monials of their regard and esteem. It will 
be remembered that I was in their employ 
before I left Fall River. One of the letters 
Vv'hich I received from J. M. Aldrich, con- 
tained $20. It would afford me great pleas- 
ure to publish those letters; but I have no 
copies of them. *A11 of the above, and all 
who participated in the work, or feeling of 
kindness, are entitled to mj deep gratitude, 
and esteem. The editor of a Fall liiver pa- 
per, or some one, sent me the paper regularly. 
Whoever it was, he has my thanks. Mr. 
John Murray, of Thomaston, but formerly of 
New York, has my good wishes ; and, if I ever 
get able I will pay him for a mattress which 
he sent to the jail for me to lie on. Samuel 
Carraway's wife has my thanks for sending 
me a bottle of molasses ; and though last, not 
least, a negro woman has as large a share of 
my gratitude as any, for bringing me fruit at 
different times. I may have forgotten some 
other favors ; but I wish every one to whom 
I may be thus indebted, of whatever grade, 
color, sex, age, or condition, to know that I 
feel thankful, and they have my lasting grati- 
tude for all and every flivor that was extend- 
ed to me. Xo one knows, indeed, how it 
soothes an aching heart, or huw it strengthens 



IMPRISONMENT IN JAIL. 59 

one overwhelmed by misfortune, to receive 
even tlie most trifling favor. Every generous 
act is a bright gem, every cheering Avord is a 
cherished pearl — every kind look, smile, or 
glance, is treasured up by one in misfortune. 

About a month before my trial came on, I 
sent for Amos Hammond, Esq., to come and 
see me. He lived in Monroe County, but was 
up at the Inferior Court then in session. I 
asked him what he would ask to defend me. 
He said that if $200 could be secured to him, 
he woidd do the best he could for me. I was 
unable to raise that sum ; for the sheriff had 
taken all my stock, and farming tools, to pay 
the costs of the prosecution ; and property at 
such times brings not more than a quarter of 
its value. 

I passed most of the time, during that peri- 
od, in reading such books as I could procure. 
That was an awful summer for me ; and but 
the faintest conception of it can be given by 
any language ! The most fearful meaning of 
that true history will never be known, until it 
is read directly from the soul, on whose seared 
tablets it has been inscribed, as it were with 
the scorching point of lightning, and the sting 
of scorpions. Some idea may be had of the 
anguish I endured, from the fact that when I 



60 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

went to jail I had not a single gray hair, and 
in the space of five months I became quite 
gray. My physical sufferings were great; 
but I fretted and chafed still more in mind, to 
think that I was unlawfully detained, — "cab- 
ined, cribbed, and confined'' under the charge 
of such a dastard as Samuel Carraway. Such 
men ought to be held up to the world's con- 
demnation ; and as long as a single person 
who has been in Carraway's charge hves upon 
earth, so long, at least, his name will be held 
in the execration it deserves. No excuse can 
be rendered for such a crime as ill-treatment of 
a prisoner ; and even repentance can scarcely 
hope for forgiveness from those who have felt 
its iniquity. 

I was never very delicate, or particular 
about my food, but I claim to be neither an 
Esquimaux, nor a dog, to swallow solid lumps 
of fat, of tlie most disgusting kind ; and even 
if I had belonged to the family of swine, it 
would have been hardly just, even to the na- 
ture of a hog, that I should be left to wallow 
in filth, and kept forever in a pent-up sty, 
without a breath of fresh air ! 

The summer wore away at length; but 
none can even imaoine how slowlv — how 



IMPKISONMENT IN JAIL. 61 

wearily ; and at last the day arrived wliicli 
was to decide my fate. 

In Hotclikiss's Statute Laws of Georgia, 
page 789, will be found the following law : 
" Every person charged with a crime, or of- 
fense, which may subject him, or her, to 
death, or imprisonment in the penitentiary 
for the term of three years, or more, shall be 
furnished, previous to his, or her arraignment, 
with a copy of the Indictment, and a list of 
the witnesses who gave testimony before the 
Grand Jury." This was not done. No copy 
of the Indictment was ever given me. Was 
it because they dared not put such an iniquit- 
ous case into the formality of black and white, 
lest they should be ashamed to look their own 

actions full in the face ? 
\ 



CHAPTEE YII. 

THE TRIAL. 

Ox the 14th day of August, I was taken 
out for trial. The immortal Carraway dis- 
played consummate ability in gathering the 
people around the jail; and though he well 
knew that I could scarcely walk, he sum- 
moned a posse to guard me to the court-house. 
With the aid of him and his guard, I arrived 
there in safety. The case was called, and the 
Indictment read, to which I plead not guilty. 

The judge asked me if I had counsel? I 
told him Iliad not. lie then appointed Amos 
llammond and Z. Ilarmond to defend me. 
The case was one which they did not like to 
defend, being very unpopular, and they were 
not to get paid for it ; yet, I think they did 
as wcl] as any others, under the circumstances, 
would have done. 

The following is the form of the Indict- 
ment: " Georgia, Upson County. The grand 
jurors sworn, chosen, and selected for the 
county of Upson, to wit (here follows a list of 
the jurors), in the name, and in behalf of, the 



THE TRIAL. 63 

citizens of Georgia, cliarge and accuse L. W. 
Paine, of the county and "State aforesaid, with 
the offense of simple larceny ; for that the 
said L. W. Paine did take unlawfully, and 
with the force of arm, a large, likely mulatto 
man, about tlie age of thirty years, the pro- 
perty of one Allen Walker, on the 81st day 
of March, 18i5." After numerous repetitions 
of "the saidL. W. Paine," "the said Allen 
Walker," and " said slave," the customary 
clause is added, " contrary to the laws of said 
State, and the good order, peace and dignity 
thereof" 

The next step was the empanneling of the 
jury. I soon saw that there could be but 
faint hope of a fair trial, from the course 
which the jurors pursued ; for when the fol- 
lowing question was put, " Have you any 
prejudice or bias resting on your mind, for or 
against the prisoner at the bar ?" many of 
them answered, " Xo." Yet, it was well 
known that they had abused and viMed me 
in the worst manner. Some of them, how- 
ever, answered honestl}^ and fairly that they 
had those feelings against me. 

After a long trial we made out the required 
number. Then the Solicitor-General opened 
the case to the Jury, with a speech full of bom- 



64 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

bastic declamation, and containing the follow- 
ing falselioods : He said tliat he would give 
me a fair trial. Wonderfully generous ! He 
said that he should be able to prove that I 
stole the property from Upson County ! The 
last assertion startled me. I could not devise 
how he would be able to do that. The reader 
will here bear in mind that law which I quoted 
in connection with my commitment, and which 
compels one to be tried in the county where 
the crime is committed ; and also, if I was 
once tried, and not found guilty, that Avould 
be the end of the case. The slave had not 
been found, so that it Avas impossible for them 
to identify the property. I was ready for 
trial, and all their witnesses were there ; so it 
left them no room to put oif the case. They 
had not been able to find any one who had 
seen the slave in my possession, and who also 
knew that he belonged to Walker. The soli- 
citor had instituted iuquiries in all directions, 
for the purpose of deciding in what county 
to try me, and had at last chosen Upson, yet 
without being able to prove tliat I had com- 
mitted any offense whatever in the county. 
They well knew that no such whip -the -de a- il- 
round-the-stump kind of business, nor any 
such bungling circumlocution would be tole- 



THE TRIAL. 65 

rated in tlie Superior Court as was carried on 
in the Justice Court. How were tliey to leap 
over all these obstacles? In what way, and 
by Avhat means, were they to break down all 
these barriers? They found a w^ay to do 
it, notwithstanding the apparent difficulties. 
They accomplished the work in their own 
style. 

Allen Walker, and several others, had paid 
me a visit at the jail about six weeks before 
the trial, at my request. We had a long talk 
on the subject ; and I related many circum- 
stances to liim relative to the case ; but no- 
thing which he could lawfully use against me. 
I knew the law relative to the proof which 
was necessary, very well, and also that I could 
be tried only once. 

The first witness that went on the stand was 
Peter Butts. He swore that I told him in 
jail that I took the property from Upson 
County. I knew not what to think of that. 
I felt sure that he was laboring under a mis- 
take, supposing that I had said so. But what 
was ni}^ surprise, when Allen Walker went 
on the stand, and swore to the same facts. 
This completely confounded me. When they 
were cross-questioned by my Counsel, they 
adhered to their perjured assertions I knew 

0* 



66 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

not wliat to say, or tliink, or do. This was 
carrying the war into Africa, in a way 
whicli I was not prepared for. The sole 
chance I had left Avas to upset their testimony 
by that of others present ; and the only man 
I could rely on to do that, was as good a man 
as I could find in the county. Dr. D. Kendall ; 
but, on going to seek him, he had just been 
called away to visit one wlio was dangerously 
sick. There I was ; the case had to go on. 
What was I to do ? The only man who could 
render any service in m}' case was not to be 
had. I knew that I was not guilty of telling 
those men what they swore I did ; but some- 
thing must be done. I was compelled to act 
promptly, and with decision. I knew the 
character of the people I had to deal with. I 
knew that by resisting the case I could gain 
nothing. I had no witnesses to combat the 
evidence which they had produced. I had 
none summoned, having rested in the belief 
that they could not prove what was necessary 
to convict me. Had I entertained the most 
remote idea of the course tlic}^ would pursue, 
I should have been prepared for it, by sum- 
moning Dr. D. Kendall, wlio would, I think, 
have rebutted their testimony. But I have 
never seen him since lie came 1o the jail with 



THE TEIAL. 67 

Walker, except a few minutes at court, wlieri 
I first went into tlie conrt-honse ; and I do 
not know how lie understood the matter, as I 
never made any inquiries. 

I knew, if I pushed and urged the case 
to the full extent, that it would cause the 
judge to cast the whole power of the law upon 
me, and still result in nothing to my advan- 
tage. Though I felt as keenly as any one 
could feel the injury and outrage that was per- 
petrated upon me, yet I knew it was madness 
and folly to allow myself to be thrown into 
exasperation, and thus injure my cause, pos- 
sibly beyond redemption. My hand was in 
the lion's mouth, and it was good policy to 
get it out as easily as possible. I knew that 
it was the practice to favor those who did not 
urge their case, and put the State to expense 
by delaying the court. I had frequently been 
urged by different persons, both before and at 
the court, to plead guilty. I felt confident 
their object was to lure me into committing 
myself, knowing their own inability to do so. 
" But now I feel assured it was done to save 
themselves a little uneasiness which might 
possibly rest on their consciences, after their 
false swearing. I thought at the time, nor 
have I seen any reason to change my mind, 



68 SIX YEARS IN TRISOX. 

that the best thing I could do was to make 
no further opposition. Therefore, I told my 
Counsel that I wished them to withdraw all 
defense ; that they could plainly see that the 
Court, the Jur}^, the Witnesses, and the People, 
were all excited and prejudiced against me ; 
that the Solicitor would leave no stone un- 
turned to convict, and that my prosecutor 
had untold riches with which to salve easy 
consciences for their aid and perjury. He 
would therefore ui'ge all to do their utmost 
against me, and had employed the ablest 
counsel in the county to aid the Solicitor. 
While all these advantages were in their 
hands, I had not one in my favor. 

They asked me if I would plead guilty to 
the charge of stealing the slave. I told them 
no ; but if it would be of any satisfaction 
to my prosecutor, I would say frankly that 
the slave who was found with me belonged to 
him ; but I would more frankly say that I 
never acknowledged having him in my pos- 
session, in Upson County, They said that it 
would be best to remain as quiet as possible 
until after the sentence was passed upon me ; 
for should I irritate the mind of tlic Court, it 
would be worse for me ; so I said no mure, 



I 



THE TRIAL. 69 

but submitted to my fate with the best grace 
possible. Thus ended my trial. 

I well remember that Allen Walker asked 
me the question, where I came up with the 
slave. I told him that I could not designate 
the place ; for it was in the night* and I was 
not acquainted with the roads ; but he well 
knew that I had traveled, and was familiar 
with, all the roads in the county. I made no 
averment, nor said aught that could be so 
construed, or which might lead him even to 
think that I met the slave in Upson County. 
I knew at once his object in asking that ques- 
tion ; and I was not such a fool as to cut my 
own throat, even if I had met him there. I 
am so sure that I am right, that I would wil- 
lingly stake six years more of imprisonment 
against the liberty of the slave. But they saw 
the utter impossibility of proving where I got 
the property, and that they could not identify 
him in Court ; so they had to adopt some 
means to find me guilty. Whether they did 
it willfully, or not, I cannot say. The most 
charitable face I can put on the matter is, to 
say they might have thought so. But after 
all, I see httle room for that saving clause. 
One thing, however, I do know^ and that is I 
never told them so. Was it not, then, by 



70 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

perjury, tliat I was consigned to long, bitter, 
cruel years of incarceration ? Whether I was 
guilty, or not, is a question entirely aside. I 
was to be proven so. I did intend to liberate 
the slave. I was guilty of that crime ; and I 
did not fear to own it, if it had been fairly 
proved against me. 

As soon as the trial was over I was re- 
manded to jail, till the last day of the Court, 
when I was to receive my sentence. As soon 
as I got there, I tried to think of something 
which I had said, that might have caused 
those men to swear as they did ; but the more 
I thought of it, the surer I felt of my position. 
So I ever have been, from that day to the 
present ; and it has been one of the worst bar- 
dens I have had to bear, to think that I was 
dealt wrongfully with. 

On Saturday I was taken out to be sen- 
tenced. As soon as I was seated in the Court 
Ilouse, the Judge ordered me to stand up ; 
and then, with looks of the greatest satisfac- 
tion, and in tones which were more calculated 
to rouse the passions, than humble pride, he 
addressed me, in the manner and spirit fol- 
lowing : 

" Your looks and appearance indicate that 
you have been well brought up. You are a 



THE TRIAL. 71 

northern man ; and since your stay among 
us, you have displayed talents and abilities 
which ought to have led you to different acts. 
You have pursued the common business of 
life, and received the protection of our laws. 
AVe have reposed in you our confidence, and 
extended to you our hospitalities. But you 
now stand charged with a crime of the black- 
est dye — one that leads to murder, arson, and 
civil war ; and you have returned the hospi- 
talities of the south with the blackest ingrati- 
tude. But in consideration of your not urg- 
ing 3'our case forward, and not delaying the 
Court, and putting the State to expense, I 
will take three from the ten years which I 
could give you, and sentence you to seven 
years of hard labor in the State-Prison ; and 
I hope that when you will have served your 
time out, you may become a good member of 
society." 

The law for taking, abducting, or stealing 
negroes, puts the punishment from four to 
ten years in the State-Prison. If all Judges 
demean themselves in this way, toward per- 
sons whom they sentence, I do not wonder at 
their being so generally denounced by prison- 
ers as they are. Having no further business 
in Court, as the lawyers say, I was returned 



72 SIX YEARS IX FPJSOX. 

to jail, to wait the arrival of the Staie-Prison 
guard. It is the duty of the Clerk of the 
Court, to write to the Warden of the state- 
prison, and notify him that there is a prisoner 
sentenced. As the distance is seventy miles, 
I had to remain several days before the ar- 
rival of the guard. 

I felt relieved — and easier and better after I 
had received my sentence, than I had done for 
months. I knew my doom ; all anxiety was 
over, and all suspense at an end. On the 
20th, the guard arrived. It was with pleasure 
that I heard the news : for I was anxious to 
escape from a dastard's hand — from one who 
had me kept in filth, and who fed and treated 
me like a brute. I know that if he ever reads 
these pages, he will chuckle, to think of all 
the misery he caused me. But I hope he will 
see the iniquity of such acts ; and, by altering 
his course, treat prisoners more as they ought 
to be treated. I know that he will be full of 
wrath, if he ever sees what I have written, for 
he never could bear the truth, and I have 
written nothing else ; nor can I take back one 
word or letter : and if his hatred is increased, 
he may rest assured that he cannot have so 
bad an opinion of me as I have of him. 



I 



THE 'iTJAL. 73 

I left him oii the 21st, and have never seen 
him since, nor ever wish to again. 

It Avas very cheering to breathe the fresh air 
as we rode along. The guard stoj)ped, and 
got me fruit. Peaches were then ripe, and 
they tasted very luscious. The air was 
sweet and soft, and, but for the tightness of 
my irons, I should have had a very pleasant 
ride. The guard was very kind, and ready to 
make me as easy as possible. 

On the 22d, we arrived at Milledgeville, 
where the State-Prison is located ; and it 
looked somber and gloomy enough. I went 
into the blacksmith's shop, and had my irons 
taken off — then to the cell building, and put 
on my prison suit ; and thence to the office of 
the Principal Keeper, to receive a lecture on 
my duties of prison life. The lecture con- 
tained much good advice; and I took the 
keeper to be a very fine man ; but he proved 
to be quite the contrary; nor was this the 
first time I found that kind words are not 
always the precursors of kind actions. 



CHAPTER YUL 

THE STATE-PRISON. 

" O Time ! the beautifier of the dead, 

Adorner of the ruin, comforter 
And only healer when the heart hath bled ! 

Time, the corrector, where our judgments err- 

The test of love — truth — sole philosopher — 
For all besides are sophists, from thy thrift, 

Which never loses, though it doth defer. 
Time, the avenger ! unto thee I lift 
My hands, and eyes, and heart, and crave of thee a gift 

" Amid this wreck, where thou hast made a shrine 

And temple, more divinely desolate ; 
Among thy mighty offerings, here are mine, 

Ruins of years, though few, yet full of fate ! 

If thou hast ever seen me too elate, 
Hear me not : but if calmly I have borne 

Good, and reserved my pride against the hate 
Which shall not whelm me, let me not have worn 
This iron in my soul in vain." 

I RETIRED that night with sad and heavy 
feelings. I saw that all was lost, and felt the 
load of oppression resting on my heart. I 
knew that long 3'ears of ^^'oe, miser}-, and 
bondage were before me; but worse than 



THE STATE-PEISOX. 75 

"The woes we see not. — which throb through 
The immedicable soul, with heart-aches ever new !" 

But when all else was obsc^ired, one bright star 
still shone to cheer me on — the lovely star of 
Hope. That alone seemed to keep me from 
sinking into the deepest dejection and despair. 
But I nerved myself for the prospect which 
lay before me. I aroused my slumbering for- 
titude, to sustain me in the fiery ordeal through 
which I was to pass. I put on the strongest 
armor of the soul, resolved to grapple man- 
fully v,'iih the grim Destiny I already saw in 
the dim distance, stalking, like a giant demon, 
across the desert of life, yet standing out in 
bold relief against the dark and clouded sky. 
I sought for that di\dne alchemy, which, 
though it cannot escape, may yet so neutralize 
the elements of misery, as to convert them 
into a sanative medicine, or even a healthful 
nutriment. I strove continually to stifle all 
such recollections and reflections, as tended to 
disturb the mind, and kept my thoughts from 
the harrowing subject as much as possible. 
To adopt the noble sentiment of the lovely 
but unfortunate Madame Eoland, ''I steeled 
my heart against adversity, and avenged my- 
self on fate by deserving the happiness it did 
not bestow." 



76 SIX YEARS IX PKISON. 

I went tliere with a full determination to 
fulfill all tlie duties required of me, and to obey 
all rules which I thought right and just. But 
I never could bring myself to believe that 
those rules which prohibited our talking, and 
also our having light in our cells at night, 
were proper ; and I never obeyed them, except 
when constrained to do so by the presence of 
the officers. I arose in the morning to com- 
mence my first day's work with feelings which 
it would be difficult to analj^ze. 

It is the usual practice to allow prisoners to 
follow any branch of trade they may desire ; 
but it is by no means alwaj's followed in this 
prison. I was first put in the cabinet-shop, 
where I staid about three weeks, and was then 
transferred to the carriage-shop. The change 
from inactivity in jail to hard labor, being so 
great, and m}^ reduced state when the change 
was made, had such an effect, tliat it was some 
time before I recovered my usual health. In 
fact, I was not able to work for two months 
after I went to prison ; but I was compelled 
to do it, or be punished. 

The treatment I received the first year I 
was there, would not have been adopted by 
any just or humane man, to say nothing of a 
Christian ; yet the Warden was a praying 



THE STATE-PRISON. 77 

member of the Methodist Churcli ! Could 
those who have charge of prisoners know 
what a prisoner's feehngs are, how the great 
change which takes place afiects both his 
mind and bod}- — the strangeness of all 
things — and what he feels and suffers — they 
would give him time to adapt himself to the 
new and unnatural condition in which he is 
placed. 

The law very clearly defines both the kind 
and quantity of a prisoner's food, thus: "Of 
bacon, half a pound, or pork, three quarters of 
a pound ; hind quarter of beef, one pound : 
fore quarter, a pound and a quarter ; corn bread, 
and such garden vegetables as the Principal 
Keeper may provide per day " This we did 
not get for the first two and a half years that 
I was there ; and it was the occasion of great 
dissatisfaction among the prisoners. 

The law also says, that the clothing shall 
consist of " one round jacket, one vest, and 
one pair of trowsers, of kerseys, two pair of 
shoes, two pair of woolen-yarn socks, two 
shirts, two pair of trowsers made of cotton 
cloth, and one round jacket of the same." 
There was a great deal of fault found about 
our clothes. We never got a vest, never but 



78 SIX YEARS IN PRISON-. 

one Y)Ciiv of socks, and sometimes none at all, 
and never our cotton jackets. 

The law also says, that " every prisoner 
shall be furnished with a cheap mattress, and 
such a number of blankets as the Principal 
Keeper believes shall be needed. The mattress 
was truly a very cheap concern — for it was 
nothing but an old dirty sack, filled with shav- 
ings. As to the blankets, the Keeper, it ap- 
pears, thought Ave needed just none at all; 
for he bought none. 

But in the year '-IS, when the new Keeper 
came to office, he had all the mattresses taken 
out, emptied, washed, and well filled with 
cotton, and ncAV blankets for all. lie also fed 
us plentifull}^, and clothed us well. 

A short time after I went into the carriage- 
shop, I was taken sick, and reported myself 
so to the Keeper. But he had an idea, that 
no one could be sick unless he had a fever, 
and that that was the key to unlock all de- 
ception. I have heard him say often, that no 
one could be sick of any disease, without fe- 
ver : and I dare say he has this notion yet, 
for I never knew him to change his mind 
about anything. He would not consent for 
me to stop work ; and I Avorkcd on for live 
days, during which time I ate only two meals; 



THE STATE-PRISON. 79 

and the next Sunday lie kept me in my cell 
all day, as a restorative. About the middle 
of the day, I was taken with a severe ague ; 
and in the morning I found it impossible to 
go to work. So I lay in bed till I had anoth- 
er ague, and then sent for the doctor. He 
came, and at once ordered me to the hospital, 
and said he thought me in a very bad condi- 
tion. I was in the hospital ten days before I 
got able to work; but I took advantage of 
the very first returning strength to go out, 
and resume my work ; for there was nothing 
ever made the Keeper so angry and " down" 
on a man, as to see him in the hospital. Af- 
ter I got better, the doctor told me, that noth- 
ing but a good constitution had saved me. 

I knew I was in severe hands, and my only 
chance was to leave him no room to find fault, 
and that if I was steady and industrious, and 
pursued a correct and upright course, he could 
not abuse me. I desired to soften his preju- 
dices, and by the correctness of my deport- 
ment wear out his rigor ; but it was a long 
time before I could be allowed the favors that 
others were. 

When I had been in the carriage shop about 
six months, there was an opening in the foun- 
dry for some one, and I asked for the place. 



80 SIX YEAES IN PRISON. 

I had two objects in this change: one was to 
get from under the hands of the overseer of 
the carriage shop, A^'ho was a mean and petty 
tyrant to those who were under him, and at 
the same time a most suppliant and cringing 
tool of those who were over him. My other 
reason was, that the keeper took a great in- 
terest in the foundry, and allowed those who 
worked there more liberty tlian others. 

He granted my request ; and about the 
middle of March, '46, I went to the foundry. 
I began my new trade with pleasure, for the 
prospect before me already began to brighten. 
Determined to make good use of it, I unbent 
all my energies to learn all, and as fast as I 
could. I was attentive and industrious about 
my work; and all my leisure, such as 'meal 
hours and Sundays, I spent in study. 

When I first arrived there was a great 
dearth of books, — the Bible, a few religious 
tracts, with several grammars and arithme- 
tics, composed the catalogue. But about this 
time that most worthy, benevolent, and phi- 
lanthropic lad}^. Miss D. L. Dix, sent the pri- 
soners a present in the form of a librarv. 
Could she but know the great pleasure, in- 
struction and bcDcfit which, not only myself, 
but many others, have reaped from her dona- 



THE STATE-PRISOI^. 81 

tion, she would feel herself in some measure 
paid for her noble and appropriate gift, by our 
deep and lasting gratitude. I shall always 
remember her with the kindest emotions of 
my heart. 

After the arrival of the library I commen- 
ced a regular course of study and reading. 
For several months during the cold weather, 
we went to our cells before five o'clock ; and 
as I did not go to bed until between ten and 
eleven, there were left more than five hours 
for study. I tried my hand or rather my 
head, at trigonometry, geometry, and algebra, 
and read or studied all the works on natural 
philosophy, astronomy, and mechanics. I 
preferred a thorough coui^se in such branches 
as interested me, to indiscriminate reading : 
and all the works in the above sciences which 
our library contained, I have read frequently. 
Many is the hour that I have whiled away by 
the light of my secretly-kept lamp ; and 
though my body was confined in a lonely cell, 
the mind was free as air, reveling amid scenes 
described by travelers, historians, biographers, 
poets, and divines. Though trammeled and 
pent up in worse than a " Utica," jet the 
whole boundless universe was mine, to think 
and reflect upon. In the school of afiliction 



82 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

my mind was learning to discipline itself — 
to see that misfortune is the common lot of 
man — to gather strength from defeat, and to 
soar above the troubles of life. 

My studies were not only a great pleasure^ 
but they were also a great benefit to me in 
various ways. They kept my mind engaged 
w^hen I was not at work, thus preventing it 
from turning to other, and more dolefid sub- 
jects ; and they enabled me to render assist- 
ance to others, both officers and prisoners. 

After the year '-17, we were allowed to 
take such papers as were neutral in j^olitics. 
These we received from various parts of the 
Union ; and thenceforward I kept myself 
pretty well informed of passing events. This 
was a source of great enjovment, for once 
more we were put in communication -v\ith the 
world. 

It is unmerciful, unjust, and altogether 
wrong, to deprive |)risoners of the regular pa- 
pers of the diVLj. It is unmerciful, because the 
embarrassments, trials, and difficulties which 
he has to encounter, on first being released, 
are already sufficiently numerous, almost to 
appall him ; and how are they increased if he 
has been kept in ignorance of the doings of 
the worll; for thi ii Jie is, as it were, taken 



1 



THE STATE-PEISON. 8^ 

out of the blackest midnight and plunged 
suddenl}^ into the most intense light of noon- 
day. It is unjust, because no man has a right 
wantonly to deprive another of that which is 
for his best interest; and there is nothing 
more necessary to this than that one should 
keep himself informed of the inventions, im- 
provements and passing events of the age. 
It is wrong, because it leads him astray, 
throws him into a still more false position, 
and keeps him unnecessarily behind the times. 

I kept no journal of the events which took 
place while I was in prison ; and had I done 
so, I could not have preserved it, for the 
ofiicers were aU the time searching the cells, 
desks and drawers, for forbidden articles. I 
shall give only the principal events which 
transpired, in such a way as I think the 
reader will best understand them. 

The rules were very strict until the year 
1848. No talking was allowed, except on 
Sundays. We were permitted to write only 
one letter a year, and to see no one except 
OUT nearest relations. The most common 
punishment was confinement in our cells all 
day on Sundays, with no refreshment but 
bread and water. In extreme cases, whipping 
with the paddle was resorted to. This instru- 



84 SIX YEAKS IN PlilSOX. 

ment is made of a piece of leather about five 
inches wide, and twice as long, fastened on a 
short handle of Avood. From ten to forty 
blows arc given at a time, according to the 
offense. This is a very severe punishment. 

As I was charged with an offense which 
they considered the most aggravating, I had 
no favors to expect. They always regarded 
me as one who deserved no lenity. The keep- 
er who was there when I went, and who staid 
till the first of January, 1848, was always 
much prejudiced against me. He never gave 
me even-handed justice, but always thought 
me a dangerous man. I was aware of all this, 
and determined to give him no chance to vent 
his feelings on me. I was confident that I 
hailed from the Avrong latitude to suit his 
taste ; and thougli he could not catch me in 
any offense worthy of notice, yet he would 
coop me up on the slightest charges. The 
following incidents will show his feelings 
toward me : — 

About the 1st of June, 181:6, the man who 
wheeled the coal for the foundry and the 
blacksmith's shop, found a ham in the coal- 
house, and to keep himself out of difiiculty he 
thought it best to take it to one of the officers. 
But before he did so, one of the men wlio 



THE STATE-PRISON. 85 

worked with me in the foundry cut off a piece, 
and cooked it; and after we had run off the 
blast, we sat down to eat our ham. But be- 
fore we had got a bite of it, along came the 
Assistant Keeper, and seeing us with more 
meat than he thought we had for our rations, 
he asked us where we got it. We explained 
the case to him, and he reported it to the 
Principal Keeper, Avho came and asked me if 
I could not get along wdthout stealing. I 
told him that it was not stolen, but found. 
He asked me if it was mine. I told him no ; 
and that it had not been proven to be any 
one's. He asked if I did not get enough to 
eat. I told him I did not. He said I got as 
much as his negroes did. Here I was fairly 
choking with a desire to tell him I had no 
doubt of that, — and still did not get half 
enough ; but knowing it would not do to say 
this, I kept silent. I was like the Yankee 
who said, when the Indians had him, he 
" wanted to talk darnation bad." He finally 
left, and ordered me to be kept up four Sun- 
days on bread and water. It is a rule to spe- 
cify the charge when they keep up a man, 
but he never made any charge against me. I 
do not think he could find any word in Web- 
ster that would designate the offense, if it can 
8 



86 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

be so called ; but one of tlie prisoners wbo 
was quite a Avag, said, lie kept me up for cast- 
ing fried ham out of iron. 

Some time after this the Assistant Keeper 
ordered me to make a good, strong box, to 
hold the wagon and carriage boxes which I 
had cast. I went to work and made the box ; 
but about the time I got it done, the Princi- 
pal Keeper came along, and asked me why I 
was making that box ? I told him the reason. 
He went to the Assistant Keeper about it, for 
he Avould allow nothing done unless he or- 
dered it. The latter gentleman denied it ; and 
they both came down to where I Avas. 

The Principal then said, " Why did you 
tell me you were ordered to make that box ?" 

" Because it was true," I replied. 

The Assistant then said, " I did not tell 
you to make that box." 

" But," said I, " you told me to make a 
box, and this is a box." He saw that he was 
cornered, and said no more. But though 
they failed to convict me about the box, the 
inventive genius of the Principal Keeper soon 
found sufficient cause to coop me up ; for he 
charged me with wasting nails — as though I 
could make a box without nails. The absur- 
dity of the charge was such that the })risoncrs 



TBTE STATE -PRISON. 87 

always had a laugli at the keeper's expense, as 
long as I remained there. I was under this 
Warden about two years and a half ; and I 
can say, with truth, that I gave him as little 
cause for complaint as any one in the prison. 
Though it is about as easy to cut through a 
mountain of iron, as through prejudice, 3"et a 
correct and straight-forward course will, at 
last, work through it. In this way I gradu- 
ally softened his feelings toward me ; and I 
passed through his wardenship without any 
further punishment than being kept up on 
Sunday. His time expired on the first day of 
January, 184:8, and the new Warden was in- 
stalled in office the same day. This happy 
change was the consequence of the election of 
a new Governor. 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE CONSPIRATORS. 

The last Warden ^vas altogether a different 
man from the preceding one. He was very 
lenient ; and I do not hesitate to say that he 
had as much of the milk of human kindness 
as any man I ever saw. I bear this testi- 
mony more cheerfully, from the fact that he 
was unfavorably impressed toward me. He 
was far advanced in j^ears. Honest, frank, 
and humane, he wished to do what was right 
and just, himself, and he looked at others 
through the too flattering medium of his own 
motives. But he had those around him who 
took advantage of his goodness, and basely 
used his confidence. Most of the inside offi- 
cers remained, for there were few thrown out 
of place by the new administration. They all 
tried to have things their own way ; and by 
this means they fell into a quarrel, and kept 
up a continual strife for more than a year. 
The prisoners joined in the general feeling, 
some for one overseer, and some for another. 
But like all other contentions, the elements 



THE CONSPIRATORS. 89 

were soon resolved into Uyo parties. At tlie 
head of tlie party which was dominant for a 
long time, was an officer by the name of Mc- 
Greggor. His principal abettors were three men 
whose names were Dempsy Justice, Andrew 
Patterson, and Benjamin F. Tuggie. The 
former of these had killed three men, two in 
Georgia, and one in Mississippi. The two 
murders which he committed in Georgia were 
unprovoked ; yet he got clear through the in- 
fluence of money, able counsel, and strong 
friends. He was sent to the prison for ten 
years, charged with forgery. Governor Towns, 
who was elected in October, 1847, was his 
feed counsel and his political and personal 
friend for years. He had much confidence in 
nim, and placed great dependence on what he 
said. Patterson was sent for thirty years, on 
three charges of robbing the mail in the office 
where he was postmaster, and to which he 
plead guilty. Tuggie was sent for forgery, 
for seven years. The last two men were used 
as wire-pullers. 

Justice was to employ the confidence which 
the Governor had in him, to put the ball in 
motion. His object was to make it appear 
that McGreggor was the only man who could 
control the place, and manage its business. 
8* 



90 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

When this was done, McGreggor ^vas to step 
into the Warden's shoes. As a reward for 
their faithfulness, Justice was to boss the har- 
ness and shoe shops, Tuggle, the tan-jard, Pat- 
terson, the paint shop and hospital ; and an- 
other of their strikes was to take the wood 
and blacksmith's shops. This was their ob- 
ject. It was fully planned, and came_ well- 
nis^h beinsf effected. Justice became so im- 
portant a character, that he went where he 
pleased, at all times, both day and night. He 
frequently boasted of eating with the Gover- 
nor, drinking his brandy, and hugging his 
" yaller gals." They soon had all things as 
they wished ; and whoever did not coincide 
with them was made to suffer for his temerity. 
They falsified all things in such a way, and 
■used so much deception, as completely to de- 
ceive the Principal Keeper,* making him be- 
lieve they were his best friends. The conse- 
quence was that the Governor and the Warden 
held off all others, regarding them as being 
unfriendly to their success ; and nearly every 
prisoner in sheer self-defense either went over 
to the dominant party or said nothing against 
their course. 

* I wish the reader to understand, that the Warden and 
Principal Keeper are the same. 



THE CONSPIRATORS. 91 

In addition to all otlier woes, wounds, suf- 
ferings, and anguish, I had to endure at this 
period, was the loss of my wife. She had re- 
turned to Massachusetts about six weeks after 
my imprisonment. But the fatal blow was 
given. She had sunk under a sense of the 
wrong I was suffering, and left my two chil- 
dren worse than orphans. She died in Febru- 
ary, 1848 ; but the intelligence never reached 
me until the following June. I cannot speak 
more on this subject. The thought is too 
shockingly harrowing for me to dwell upon. 

Let us return to the conspirators. From 
first to last, boldly and frankly, I opposed 
their designs ; and by this means brought 
down upon my single head their abuse, ha- 
tred, and vengeance. I was confident that we 
could get no better man than the present 
Warden ; but if they succeeded, the prison 
Avould be, at once, transformed into a com- 
plete Inferno. The only thing I could do was 
to say nothing, receive all their abuse without 
reply, wait for an open attack, and then act 
only on the defensive. I knew they would 
be likely to fall into the common error of be- 
ing so elated with success, that they would 
overstep the bounds of prudence. 

The first charge they brought against me 



92 SIX YEAES IN PRISON. 

fiillj proved my expectations. One of ^rcGreg- 
gor's clique saw me with, more writing paper 
than it was customary for prisoners to have. 
He had seen me come from the Warden's office 
the same day, and was sure that I had stolen it. 
He took it from my drawer, and gave it to 
McGreggor, Avho at once circulated the story 
that I had stolen it from the office. I went to 
him directly, and asked him to prove it. He 
flew into a passion, and would not listen to 
me. I then went to the AYarden, and told 
him of the charge, well knowing that he would 
right me ; for I had got the paper from the 
clerk, by his order, only a few days before. 
I made a clear vindication ; and he ordered 
McGreggor to give me back the paper. I 
had such positive proof by the officers that it 
greatly mortified my accusers ; but instead of 
teaching them a lesson, it only made them 
more reckless, and eager to injure me. So 
not long after this, McGreggor brought an- 
other charge against me. He said I had ac- 
cused him of stealing cucumbers from the 
prisoners' garden. This was so far-fetched 
that I had no means of finding out whether 
such a thing could be true or flilse ; and this 
common sense should have told him ; for I 
worked on the outside of the prison at that 



THE CONSPIRATORS. .93 

time, and at sach a distance tliat I could not 
possibly know what was going on in, or im- 
mediately aronnd it. I at once demanded 
the proof, and asked him to bring it before 
the Warden. He tried to get an officer to 
come before the Warden, for the purpose of 
substantiating his charge ; but he would not 
do it. He then tried a boy sixteen years old, 
but again failed. At last he got one man to 
come up ; and I proved him a liar by his own 
witness. He said I had never told him a 
word of the kind. 

This made twice that I had defeated Mc- 
Grreggor ; and it might naturally be supposed 
that he would not be in haste to charge me 
with another offi3nse. But as this increased 
his hatred against me, he used all means to 
disparage me with the Governor, and lower 
me in the estimation of the Warden ; and the 
vindictive spirit with which he pursued me 
was worthy of a more valuable conquest. But 
I must say that I paid him back with com- 
pound interest, though I battled only with 
truth ; and only with that could I have con- 
quered. 

Things moved along rather easier for some 
time after our last difficulty. They saw that 
they were not hkely to make much out of 



94 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

me ; and I did not interfere with them. I 
only repelled their attacks. 

On the first of October, 18-48, the cell- 
building caught fire from the foundry. It 
was my good luck to manage the engine so 
efiiciently, and successfully, as to stop the 
ravages of the fire, and save the property of 
the State, and that of the citizens. For this 
act I received the public thanks and compli- 
ments of the citizens ; and to show that they 
were in earnest they at once raised a petition, 
and laid it before the Governor, with letters, 
and personal appeals, for my release. But 
the Governor's mind had been too much poi- 
soned to listen to their requests. I always 
thought hard of Governor Towns for not re- 
leasing me at that time, because it was only 
Jiis desire to punish me — that alone caused 
him to refuse my pardon. ISo one would 
have censured him for it ; for the whole pub- 
lic voice demanded it — and but one officer re- 
fused his signature, and that was McGreggor. 
This alone is enough to show how violent 
was his prejudice against me. I did not ask 
it as a reward, I would have done the same 
thing the next day, even if I had known that 
he would not have pardoned me ; and at the 
time I did not have the least idea of even a 



THE CONSPIRATORS. 95 

word of thanks. I felt tliat I was but doing 
my duty ; but I did think that the Governor 
might have yielded himself to the strong tide 
that was then setting in my favor, to pardon 
and release me. 

Some time in the month of December fol- 
lowing, they turned their weapons against the 
Chaplain of the prison. His preaching did 
not suit them. I at once knew that here again 
they were " barking up the wrong tree." 
They raised a petition, and prevailed on all 
but twelve to sign it. There were several 
who would not sign it who were favorable to 
all of their other plans. After they got it 
ready, they sent it over to the Governor, whose 
anger on receiving it knew no bounds ; for 
just before it was presented to him the Chap- 
lain had been to see him, and laid the whole 
case before him. He and the Chaplain, and 
their families, were very friendly, and the 
latter was one of the most worthj^ men in the 
State. 

The Governor came over to the prison in 
hot haste, and ordered all the men into the 
dining-room ; and such another blast of indig- 
nation, and condemnation, they never listened 
to before nor since. They saw that they had 
taken a false step ; but it was too late to re- 



96 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

tract, for in his liands were their names, re- 
corded in their own j^roper signatures. 

This was a sore defeat of the allied host. 
Thej were greatly cut down ; and I laughed 
heartily at their overthrow. They called us 
the twelve Apostles, out of derision ; and that 
is the only decent name they ever aiDplied to 
me. But this cured them from ever attempt- 
ing to raise another petition in the prison. 
There are men there to this day who would 
scarcely sign a petition for their own pardon. 
The very name and thought of such a docu- 
ment makes them mad. 

Not long after this had blown over, they 
prepared to give me another battle. They 
had let me rest for some time, and I rejoiced so 
much at the turn affairs had taken in their 
difficulty with the Chaplain, that they deter- 
mined to visit their vengeance upon me. My 
sky was again overcast with dark and lower- 
ing clouds. They seemed to say mth the 
Indian chief: 

" We've mailed it in the clouds, where the thunder mutters low, 
And where the lightning of our hatred falls, you well may 
dread the blow !" 

All things indicated that they must either 
conquer then, or give up the contest. No 
better proof can be given of the extreme 



THE CONSPIRATORS. 97 

lengths to which thej would go to ensnare 
me, than the foolish and silly course which 
they adopted in our last battle, which the pri- 
soners called the " Battle of Peace." This 
had risen from a very silly and trifling affair. 
It was a practice quite common among the 
prisoners to write letters to one another, under 
the pretense that they came from their friends. 
By altering their handwriting, and properly 
backing the letters, they could pass them off 
as genuine. By my writing such a letter to 
one of th^ men, they seized an op]3ortunity to 
renew the attack, and endeavored to make 
great capital out of it. The man to whom I 
gave the letter, took- it to McGreggor ; and he 
set his invention to work to see if he could 
not get me flogged. He ordered the man to 
write an answer, and express in the most 
pointed language his desire and determination 
to escape, suggesting that by the aid of a 
friend he could carry it into execution. 

I worked on the outside at the time, and 
the letter I wrote professed to come from a 
friend of the prisoner outside, stating that the 
bearer would bring an answer, if desired. In 
the morning, I received from my Mercury a 
letter, which I thought would contain some 
wittj" or amusing repl}- ; but I found it of a 
9 



98 SIX YEARS IN PEISON. 

very different character. I was astonished at 
the dangerous tone and spirit of its contents, 
and at first could not well see the object of 
the writer. He closed by requesting, in the 
most earnest manner, that an answer might be 
sent back with a positive reply to his propo- 
sition. 

My letter had contained nothing but com- 
mon expressions of friendship and good wishes, 
and was written without any idea of harm or 
wrong intentions. I could see no motive for 
such a reply, but a desire to lay a trap for me ; 
and I at once made up my mind to spring the 
steel upon the one who had set it. I there- 
fore answered his letter in a manner which 
seemed to comply with all of his requests, 
yet in such guarded language that they could 
take no advantage of me. They caught the 
bait with an avidity that showed very plainh^ 
the cloven foot. Indeed, so great was their 
eagerness that they lost sight of the fact, that 
while all the proposals came from them, I had 
been so entirely non-committal in reply, that 
nothing positive could be proved against me. 

Three letters passed on each side, those of 
my correspondent having been written by the 
advice and order of McGreggor, who intended 
so to use them as to make it evident that I 



THE CONSPIRATORS. 9^ 

liad committed an offense worthy of corporal 
piiuisliment. No set of men ever worked 
harder to effect any object, than they did to 
get me whipped. They well knew that I 
would take no part in aiding the prisoner to 
escape, and that they could not prove any- 
thing of the kind. But they sought to con- 
vince the Governor and Warden that I was 
operating upon the man in such a way as to 
gain a complete avowal of his object, and 
then report him to the officers for my own be- 
nefit, knowing that could such base self-in- 
terest be proved against me, I should, with- 
out doubt, be flogged. McGreggor told the 
Governor that I did little else than keep a 
continual war among the prisoners. He mis- 
represented all the facts, showed the letters 
which I had written, made the most earnest 
appeals for my punishment, and demanded an 
order to carry it into execution. 

They had done all this without saying a 
word to me, and before I knew a word about 
it. After I found it out, I made up my mind 
to act wholly on the defensive. The Warden 
had already begun to get his eyes open. 
They had lorded it with so high a hand, that 
his confidence in their honesty had become 
shaken. When they went to him he refused 



100 SIX YEARS IX PRISON". 

to take any notice Avliatevcr of the afTair. 
The only chance left them was to get the Gover- 
nor to order an investigation. I cahnl y waited 
the result, keeping perfectly cool and collected, 
and saying not a word. They knew not what 
to think of my pursuing this very unusual 
course. But I knew I was in the kands of 
those who used the intelligence of human be- 
ings in the form of craft, only to point and 
sustain the cruel rapacity of tigers, thus de- 
grading the brutal character by the associa- 
tion. There were fearful odds against me ; 
for so basely had they reported the facts, that 
every prisoner, with but one single exception, 
thought me guiltj^ of the alleged meanness. 
This man's name I must record, for he has as 
noble a soul, and is as firm a friend as anv man I 
ever saw — Nathaniel Jones. He said that he 
would not decide against me on exjmrte evi- 
dence ; that he had always found me right, 
and he believed I was right in this case. 

It was on Thursday that they laid the case 
before the Governor and Warden. Things 
wore along till Sunday, without any action. 
On Sunday, I wrote a note, placing it where 
I knew one of the prisoners would find it. 
The note was written in a peculiar style, the 
vowels being all left out, and their places sup- 



THE COXSPIRATORS. 101 

plied hj tlie consonants which followed them 
in the alphabet. I had once heard a prisoner 
speak of this style of writing, but no one had 
the least idea that I could write it. There 
were, however, three of McGreggor's clique 
who could write in this way. I knew the 
prisoner to whom the note was addressed 
would show it, and I stated that he could set- 
tle the difficulty, if he tried, and that I was 
not the author of it. 

This note was the means of throwing them 
into the most awkward position; and their 
confusion was worse confounded, on going to 
the man w^ho had introduced that style of 
writing into the prison, and who had been par- 
doned a few days, and was boarding with one 
of the officers. They went to him for the pur- 
pose of proving that I could write in that way. 
He told them I could not ; and that he had 
taught only three men, and that I was not one 
one of them. They knew not what to think 
of this. Each one knew himself to be inno- 
cent ; but every one suspected the others of 
treachery. But they all united to prove that 
I had written it ; and, on Monday, they sent 
the note to the Governor, with a wiitten de- 
mand that he should order me to be flogged. 
He might as well have attempted to decipher 

9* 



102 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

the kieroglypliics on the tombs of Eg^^pt, as 
to read that note without a key — ^it was past 
his legal acumen. But he sent over an 
order for the Warden to investigate the mat- 
ter. 

The Warden was highly incensed at the 
liberty they took in appealing to the Gover- 
nor. He went to McGreggor, and asked him 
if he could read the note. He told him that 
he could not. He then asked him how he 
knew what was in it, and what he had to 
complain of. He told the Warden that there 
w^as no one but me that would write such a 
note, and that I was doing all I could to keep 
up a quarrel and strife among the prisoners. 

The Warden told him that, if he could 
not read the note, he had no fault to find ; 
but, if he could read it, he could write it, and 
there was no doubt that he had as much hand 
in it as I had ; adding, furthermore, that if 
he did not get into an overseer's place, and 
attend strictly to his own business, he would 
break his cane over his head; and that he 
would take the prison under his own con- 
trol, and see if he could not have less diffi- 
culty. 

McGreggor could not bear this — for, like 
his master, he would rather " reign in hell 



THE CONSPIRATORS. 103 

than serve in heaven" — so he appealed to the 
Governor for redress. But the Governor told 
him that he would not interfere any farther, 
and that they must settle the difficulty among 
themselves. 

As soon as the Warden found out that he 
had been to the Governor again, he was more 
vexed than ever, and he at once discharged 
him. McGreggor had crowed before he got 
out of the woods. He had boasted in the city 
of Milledgeville that he had at last circum- 
vented all the stratagems of the wily agitator, 
and that such punishment as I deserved would 
be inflicted on me. But, alas for the fallacy 
of all human hopes! then came the day of 
humiliation for those who had taken the up- 
permost seats. They were brought down as 
low as the lowest. McGreggor had allowed 
them to do as they pleased — to eat in the hos- 
pital, and sleep there — and go where they 
pleased ; but now they were put on the same 
level as the rest. It was a grievous thing to 
bear, but still more grievous was the mortify- 
ing thought that the poisoned chalice which 
they had intended for me, they were them- 
selves compelled to drain to the very dregs. 



CHAPTEE X. 

THE RELEASE. 

The allied host were confounded at their 
fall. Their chief was discharged in disgiace ; 
and thej had neither means nor spirit for 
keeping up the war. From this time, they 
ceased tlieir quarrel with me. All settled 
down in quiet ; and peace once more reigned 
in the camp. Though I had contended against 
them single-lianded, yet truth was too power- 
ful for their numbers. I felt rejoiced beyond 
measure, for I had succeeded in my desire : I 
had escaped from under a tyrant's luind ; and 
the Warden exercised his full authority fi^om 
that time forward. 

As I have said before, this Warden was a 
very kind man. He allowed the prisoners to 
see any of their friends, to write when they 
pleased, and to buy such things to eat as they 
wished, and could pay for ; and, to give the 
devil his due, I do not think there is a person 
to be found who is more disposed to exercise 
his clemency than Governor Towns ; but 



THE RELEASE. 105 

where he takes a dislike, or becomes preju- 
diced, lie is inveterate. 

I remained about two years after McGreggor 
was discharged, without having the least 
difficulty. I attended to my own business, 
as I had done before, and all went along 
very well. There was nothing that took place 
during this time that would particularly in- 
terest the reader — nothing but the same round, 
day after day, of working, eating, and sleep- 
ing. During the whole of my time in prison, 
I was faithful and steady to my work ; and I 
think no one will deny this. By bathing and 
purifying my cell by frequent white- washing, 
and using all proper means, I enjoyed good 
health. 

But at last, my long confinement, and exile 
from society, and the monotony of a pris- 
on life, began to have their influence on my 
health. In the summer of '50, I was very 
much unwell. The disease was decided to be 
scrofula — and I gradually grew worse during 
the whole autumn. The doctor had a very 
bad opinion of my case, from the fact that the 
most efficient remedies he could think of, pro- 
duced little or no effect. The day before 
Christmas, he ordered me to the hospital, di- 



106 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

recting me to have a free and strengthening 
diet, with all proper care and attention. 

This course was pursued for a month, 
during which time he frequently examined 
me ; but seeing no change for the better he 
came to the conclusion that nothing but free 
exercise in the open air, and such diet as I 
desired, could restore me to health. He ac- 
cordingly wrote me a certificate, expressing 
the above conviction, and recommending 
me to the Governor's clemency as a confirmed 
invalid. For this act of justice and mercy he 
will ever have my deepest gratitude ; and I 
shall ever remember Dr. George Fort with 
pride, pleasure, and respect. 

The Warden was willing to see me go ; for 
I think he was convinced that I could not 
live much longer if I remained. There was 
but one man left who was there when I went 
to prison, and he was on the second sentence, 
Notwithstanding there were one hundred and 
twenty-seven when I went there. I was quite 
broken down ; and if I did not die in prison it 
was not likely I should be able to do any more 
work. I had only nineteen months to remain. 
Under these circumstances Governor Towns 
could not withhold my pardon without violat- 
ing all sense of humanity and justice. So on 



THE RELEASE. 107 

tlie 21st day of January last, he sent my par- 
don to the prison. It came about dark ; and 
early next morning having learned the news, 
I at once prepared to leave my home of nearly 
six years. My feelings were very agreeable, 
but not in the least excited. I have seen 
many so excited that they could scarcely 
dress themselves. 

I got my discharge about twelve o'clock on 
the 22d, which made five years and five 
months, lacking five hours, that I had been in 
prison. I took my leave of the prisoners and 
departed, leaving many there whom I respect 
as men of sound principles, and high honor, 
and for whom I cherish a sincere friendship 
and respect, especially for the Steward of the 
hospital. I shall ever feel very grateful to- 
wards him for his care of me, and attention 
while in the hospital, and for other favors. I 
should be very happy to render any comfort 
or assistance in my power, or which they may 
need, to those I left there. Words cannot ex- 
press what my feelings are toward all those 
from whom I received even the slightest fa- 
vors, while in prison. Words are cheap, in- 
deed, but some of them know that I have 
given expression to my feelings in other ways 
than words. 



108 SIX YEAKS IN rUISON. 

I like the Southern people. There are 
many things which I admire in them. There 
are maDv, very many, noble and generous 
souls in the South — nature's noblemen, — and 
they are generally a generous and hospitable 
people. Georgia is a great State, possessing 
great natural resources. She has a fine climate 
and pure air, with many noble streams and 
valuable water-falls. But the blighting influ- 
ence of Slavery is impeding all her growth 
and progress. Would she abolish this, and 
adopt the common school system, in fifty 
years she would outstrip New York. 

I have written these pages for the purpose 
of correcting the statements which have been 
differently made at the North and South. I 
have related the facts as they occurred. I 
have reflected but little on the subject ; but as 
the circumstances were impressed on my 
mind in a way not easily to be forgotten, I 
trust I have given a correct version of them. 
Such has been my desire. If I have erred, I 
will cheerfully make the correction, on being 
informed of the fact. 

When I passed out into the city of Mil- 
ledgeville, I met my old enemy McGreggor. 
lie trembled like an aspen leaf. I told him 
he was guilty of the basest conduct tow.^rd 



THE RELEASE. 109 

me. He strove to polish the matter, but I 
assured liim it was useless, and lie knew I had 
always shown him as good a fight as possible. 

"Yes," he said, "I am like Pompej. I 
have met C^sar, and been defeated." 

He wanted to pay my fare in the stage to 
Gordon, but I refused to accept it. He has 
become a poor, miserable sot. His heroic ad- 
herents were pardoned long before I was, and 
I have never seen them since. Now, let me 
ask, why was I compelled to suffer long, long 
years of imprisonment, misery and woe ? 
Why ! It was for doing an act of justice — for 
doins^ to another as I would have another do 
to me — for assisting him to recover possession 
of his natural rights. I may be told that it 
" was a violation of a law which is hallow- 
ed by age, and revered by the wisest and 
sagest of our nation." But, I ask, are we to 
obey all laws, however wrong? — must we 
crouch to the oppressor's law, however repul- 
sive to our sense of justice ? If this doctrine 
be true, freedom has no substantial founda- 
tion, and the strongest despotism would have 
just as good authority and right to live as the 
most generous republic ; — nay, by the passage 
of arbitrary and cruel laws, this fair Eepublio 
itself might be converted into a despotism — 
10 



110 SIX YEARS IN PKISON. 

as it already is to^varJs one portion of its peo- 
ple, — and if it were, it could be sustained by 
the passage of all laws necessary to its exist- 
ence, and tlie truest patriot would be sunk in 
tlie rebel. 

But I may again be told that " an uncon- 
stitutional law is null and void." Why? 
" Because that is our guide, . our Magna 
Charta — it is above all law ; and beyond or 
around it we cannot go ; and for this reason 
we cannot be subjected to tyranny." I reply, 
that the Constitution itself is the work of 
man. No mere human work is perfect ; but 
whatever man has done, man must alwa3's 
hold a reserved right over, to alter, cor- 
rect or annihilate, according to the spirit and 
power of a higher sense of truth and justice. 
But natural law is prior, above, and beyond 
all human law — all constitutions, and cannot 
be invaded by either. This is the true Magna 
Charta, which gives to every man a right to 
" life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." 

Sir William Blackstone saj's, in his Com- 
mentaries, vol. i, oli— tl, " That as man depends 
absolutely upon his Maker for everything, 
it is necessary that he should, in all points, 
conform to his Maker's will. This will of his 
Maker is called natural law, and this law of 



THE EELEASE. Ill 

nature being coeval with mankind, and di- 
rected by God himself, is, of course, superior 
in obligation to any other. It is binding all 
over the globe, in all countries, and at all 
times. No human laws are of any validity^ if 
contrary to thisy 

Lord Chief Justice Hobart also holds, that 
" even an act of parliament made against na- 
tural justice, is void in itself; for all the laws 
of nature are immutable, and are leges legum^ 
the laws to whose authority all others must 
give place." 

" ISTo human laws," says Blackstone, again, 
in the same work, page 41, " should be suffered 
to contradict them. To instance, in the case 
of murder : — this is expressly forbidden by 
the divine, and demonstrably by the natural 
law : and from these prohibitions arises the 
true unlawfulness of this crime. Those hu- 
man laws that annex a punishment to it, do 
not at all increase its moral guilt, or super- 
add any fresh obligation, in foro conscientice^ to 
abstain from its perpetration. Nay, if any 
human law should enjoin us to commit mur- 
der, we are bound to transgress that human 
law, or else we must offend both the natural 
and the divine." 

Now, all laws prohibiting assistance to be 



112 SIX YEAKS IN PRISON. 

rendered to slaves, and deterring all from 
helping them to that which they have a just 
and " natural right" to, are merely human 
laws, and " of themselves null and void ;" for 
"the natural law is immutable," and therefore 
cannot be set aside by any human legislation 
or enactments whatever. 

There is not a more incontestable fact, than 
that a man has a perfect natural right to his 
hberty. It is so declared by all expounders 
of natural law. Our Declaration of Indepen- 
dence clearly establishes this point ; and so 
do all the constitutions of the States. There 
is nothing so plain and self-evident, as that a 
man's natural right to his liberty is as clear as 
his natural right to his life. Then if a man 
is unlawfully deprived of his liberty, he may 
lawfully seek to regain it ; and if a man may 
lawfully recover his own liberty, by the com- 
mon tie of the great human compact, he may 
assist another for the same purpose ; nay, he 
is bound to do so, whenever circumstance 
prompts, or occasion offers. But for doing 
this act, which Blackstone says I was bound 
to do, inasmuch as we are naturally " bound 
to transgress" all unrighteous laws, and which 
no man in his senses can deny the absolute 
and inalienable right of doing — for breaking 



THE EELEASE. 113 

a law wliich Hobart says was " null and void 
in itself" — for doing an act of common justice 
and humanity, for doing this, and this only, I 
have been subjected to years of disgrace, 
suffering and ignominy by imprisonment as a 
common felon ! Yet, the people of our whole 
nation, in their character of reformers^ would be 
glad to do this very thing ; and indeed they 
are seeking every opportunity to do it, by 
restoring foreign prisoners who have been 
doomed by law to exile, or other punishment, 
to their natural rights ; and any American 
would become a hero in the estimation of the 
whole country, by abducting one of those 
prisoners from a stronghold of European 
tyranny. But in our character of transgress- 
ors^ while we have far transcended all foreign 
aggression, violence, and wrong, we have 
made it a penal offense of the blackest dye, to 
assist one of our own victims to recover his 
liberty, though upon the validity of his claim 
to freedom rests our whole national su- 
perstructure, our Declaration of Indepen- 
dence, our Eevolution, the Constitution of the 
United States, and the constitutions of all the 
States. Sweep that away, and this boasted 
republic is without a shadow of foundation, 
tossed as it were in mid air, and liable to dash 
10 



114 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

itself to pieces, by the collision and integral 
anarchy of all its elements. Who then are 
the real disunionists ? Whose are the parri- 
cidal hands that are so unblushingly and 
daringly lifted against the true spirit of our 
laws, and all our institutions? AVhose but 
theirs, who, while they are nursing a dragon 
beneath the eagle's wing, strive to make it ap- 
pear that the foul monster is a natural off- 
spring of our gallant bird of Jove ; and are 
not the dragon's teeth sown already, — sown, 
and swelling for the fatal harvest of blood 
and death? Let us look to it, that the field 
is not ready for reaping sooner than w^e 
expect ! 

But, in plain and positive terms, w^e must 
correct this great national wTong, this great 
national hypocrisy, which have made us the 
scorn of the enlightened, and the taunt of the 
oppressor; we must take off all restrictions, 
and give the great principles of our institu- 
tions full scope and sway ; we must not make 
war on tyrants abroad, and protect far more 
monstrous tyranny at home ! We must not 
claim for ourselves the largest liberty, and im- 
pose upon the ver}' members of our household 
the most abject and stringent slaver}^ ! We 
must not speak the truth and act a lie ! The 



THE RELEASE. 115 

spirit of humanity, the spirit of the age, de- 
mands this ; and if we do not yield to the 
common and universal impetus we shall be 
soon falling in the rear, and have the mortifi- 
cation to see the Autocrat and the Janizaries 
far in advance of us. 

But to return to the point. What is past is 
over, and cannot be recalled. Upon my own 
head, and that of my devoted family, has been 
visited the full vengeance of the law. The 
penalty is paid. I alone am responsible for 
the act; and I leave all to form their own 
opinions in regard to its merits, or demerits. 
Should there be a unanimous decision in my 
favor, it would not strengthen me in the con- 
viction of its justness ; or should there be a 
"united opinion against me, it would not shake 
my mind in the least, or create a doubt, as to 
the truth of my positions. 

At the solicitation of others I have added a 
few chapters, giving a description of Slavery, 
as it exists at the South. In this production 
I make no pretensions to elegance, or beauty 
of style ; but, as Byron says, " What is writ, 
is writ.'''' 

I close by soliciting, in the kindest manner, 
the Southern people to hear, and to remember 
the words of a great man : " Though State 



116 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

may league with State, and millions covenant 
with millions more, to sustain a wrong, tliey 
cannot hold it up. Though hand join in 
hand, the wicked shall not go unpunished. 
Even yet Righteousness exalteth a nation ; 
but Sin is a reproach to any people." 



CHAPTER XI. 

LIFE IN SLAVEEY. 

LABOR, FOOD AND CLOTHING. 

"Gro ; let us ask of Constantine 

To loose his grasp on Poland's throat, — 
And beg the lord of Mahmoud's line 

To spare the struggling Suliote ! 
Will not the scorching answer come 
From turbaned Turk, and fiery Russ, 
Go ; loose your fettered slaves at home ; 
Then turn and ask the like of us ! ' 

*' O rouse ye ere the storm come forth, — 

The gathered wrath of God and man, — 
Like that which wasted Egypt's earth 

When fire and hail above it ran. 
Hear ye no warnings in the air? 

Feel ye no earthquake underneath? 
Up, up ! why will ye slumber where 

The sleeper only wakes in death ! 

"Up, now, for Freedom ! — not in strife 

Like that your sterner fathers saw — 
The awful waste of human life — 

The glory and the guilt of war ! 
But break the chain — the yoke remove — 

And smite to earth th' oppressor's rod, 
By those mild arms of Truth and Love 

Made mighty through the Living God I 



118 SIX YEARS IX PRISOX. 

" Prone let the shrine of Moloch sink, 
And leave no traces where it stood ; 
, Nor longer let its Idol drink 

His daily cup of human blood ! 
But rear another altar there, 

To Truth, and Love, and INIercy given ; 
And Freedom's gitt, and Freedom's prayer, 
Shall call an answer down from Heaven !" 

Ix Hotclikiss' Statute Law of Georgia, page 
802, may be found tlie following : " Persons 
declared slaves. All negroes, Indians, mulat- 
toes, or mestizoes, wlio now are, or hereafter 
shall be, in this province (free Indians in 
amity with this government, and all negroes, 
mulattoes, or mestizoes, who now are, or here- 
after shall become free, excepted), and aU 
their issue, or offspring, born, or to be born, 
shall be, and they are hereby declared to be, 
and remain forever hereafter, absolute slaves, 
and shall follow the condition of the mother, 
and shall be deemed, in law, to be chattels 
personal in the hands of their respective 
owners, or possessors, and their executors, 
administrators, and assigns, to all intents and 
purposes whatsoever." 

Thus the empire of the master over his 
slave is absolute and comprehensive. The 
slave exists solely for his benefit. He pur- 
chases liiiii for tliat very piirj^oso, and no 



LIFE JN SLAVERY. 119 

otlier. In order to realize the greatest jjroiit, 
a master may find it for his interest to treat 
his slaves well, to clothe them comfortably, 
feed them plentifully, and allow them as many 
privileges as possible. But if he thinks other- 
wise, he adopts an opposite course. In either 
case he acts only for his own advantage. The 
question of gain or loss decides his action ; for 
he is governed by a principle of sheer econ- 
omy. This course is the result of the position 
he occupies. 

All men, in all places, wonld be governed 
by the same motives, if placed in his situa- 
tion. The best of men, the most benevolent, 
and they who would give their last dollar to 
relieve distress, would become reconciled to 
it by habit, and the force of custom and edu- 
cation. In the South there are men of the 
kindest heart, Avho regard their fellow-men 
with the liveliest emotions of svmpathy, and 
who are noble, generous, and high-minded, 
yet who act and are governed by motives 
altogether different in relation to their slaves. 
They have been so educated as to regard 
these as another class; and in making this 
distinction they are supported by the laws of 
the land, the authority of the Church, and by 



120 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

the whole force of custom and public senti- 
ment. 

No words can more tartly describe the 
ease, nature, and cause of the "change which 
comes over the spirit of the dreams " of many 
in regard to Slavery, who once opposed it, 
than the following lines of Pope : 

" Vice is a monster of so frightful mien. 
As to be hated needs but to be seen ; 
But seen too oft, familiar with her face, 
We first endure, then pity, then embrace." 

Under that state of things can the Slave- 
holder get the same view of the subject as 
they who stand aside, and who have always 
been instructed dififerentl}-, may obtain ? 
Why should he give up his property when 
all his inclinations prompt him to retain it, 
and all the laws assist and strengthen him to 
hold it? lie knows but little of his own 
heart, and less of human nature, who says 
that he would act diiferently, had he been 
subjected to the same influences. It is hard 
to convince a man against his will, and still 
harder to convince him against his interest. 
I know but one party, sect, or denomina- 
tion, who have given up their slaves to keep 
their morals. AVhen the Societv of Friends 



LIFE IN SLAVERY. 121 

passed a rule that no member of the Society 
should hold slaves, they at once gave them 
their liberty; and I fear it will be a long 
time before there is another like circumstance. 
It is certainly true that it must be a very low 
and rudimental state of society which can tol- 
erate chattel slaver}^ ; and this is precisely the 
worst feature of the case, that it distorts the 
vision so that it cannot see a fellow-man in 
the slave it has created — that it robs a man 
of his humanity, and then punishes him, as if 
his misfortune were a crime — that it weakens 
the powers of reasoning, so that one cannot 
comprehend the plainest — na}^, the universal 
principles of right and wrong — that it de- 
grades the character of a civilized people 
into a worse than barbarous condition. 

In regard to the law referred to above, I do 
not hesitate to say that, aside from negro 
slavery, there cannot be found in the legal 
code of any people, civilized, barbarous, or 
savage, one so monstrous as that ! It is Avorse 
than brutal; for it transforms a human be- 
ing into a THING, placing him in the hands 
of a despotic master, to be so held, to all in- 
tents and purposes whatsoever. Bad as this 
is for the slave, it is still worse for the master, 

11 



122 SIX YEAKS IX PRISON. 

since it is so much better to suffer than to do 
evil. 

Now, I shall endeavor, as truthfully as pos- 
sible, to sketch the life of the slave from child- 
hood to old age. The young slaves are, like 
most other children, allowed to do as they 
like, and to amuse themselves as they please, 
till they arrive at an age capable of beginning 
their service. They usually play among the 
white children, and their first lesson is to 
obey everything that has a white skin. They 
are soon made to know that obedience is law 
and gospel. Ilowever diminutive the white 
child may be, they must comply ^yiih every 
order. Here they learn their first lesson of 
submission ; and at the same time the white 
child learns his first lesson of oppression. It 
is surprising to see how soon a small child will 
find out that he is master, and what ludicrous 
acts he will commit in playing the infant 
tyrant. The consequence is, that there is 
nothing that a white child prefers to a bevy 
of young slaves ; for he is the Napoleon of 
the gang, and lords it with all the pomp and 
authority of one who knows that he has 
absolute sway. 

The young slaves generally go naked dur- 
ing a great part of the year, or wear no- 



LIFE IN SLAVERY. 123 

thing but a sliirt. They frequently run about 
in a perfect state of nudity, until ten years of 
age. They are under a double set of masters. 
The one will punish when the}^ please ; the 
other, being naturally fond of their children, 
and having but little or no self-discipline, ge- 
nerally wait till their passions are roused to 
the highest pitch, and then they beat them 
without mercy until they are cooled down. 

They run of errands, and do such work and 
jobs about the house as are desired, till they 
are large enough to go to the held, which ge- 
nerally takes place when they are about ten 
years of age. After going to the field, the 
amount of work required will be governed 
by the character of the master. If he is a 
kind man, the slave will not be ill-treated, nor 
imposed upon by being overtasked ; but if 
the slave is so unfortunate as to be in the 
hands of a miserly and cruel man, he is badly 
used and overworked. 

About the 1st of* February, they generally 
begin to break up the ground for planting. 
Men, women, boys and girls, are all expected 
to do the same amount in plowing. They 
often have as many as thirty plows going at 
once. As soon as they get the groimd broken 
up, they run the field off into furrows at the 



124 SIX YEARS IX rpjsox. 

proper distance apart ; and while some drop 
the corn, or scatter the cotton seed, as the case 
may be, others throw a farrow over it. This 
is a much more expeditious mode than cover- 
ing with a hoe. 

The time that intervenes between planting 
and weeding, is generally devoted to the re- 
pairing of fences, and securing the fields 
against the intrusion of cattle. The corn crop 
is in general plowed three times, and weeded 
with a hoe twice. But in a cotton field there 
is no end to the work as long as you can get 
among it without breaking its branches. 

The hours of work are from light to dark. 
They take their breakflxst before going to 
work, and have one or two hours at dinner, 
according to circumstances. They generally 
get through working the crop about the mid- 
dle of August. The Southern People are not 
so good farmers as those of the North. It 
would astonish a Northerner to see the grass 
growing in their corn fields, after they have 
*' laid it bv." The first rain that comes, the crab 
grass will spring up thicker than the seven 
plagues of Egypt, and if they were all converted 
into locusts they would find it very difiicult 
to destroy. But many say that it is an advan- 
tage by keeping the fields from " washing." 



I 



LIFE IN SLAVEKY. 125 

About the time the crops are laid by, they 
pull their fodder. They never cut the stalks 
as we do at the North, but only pull the 
blades from the corn. In pulling and curing 
this they are occupied about a week. They 
then break up the ground for small seed, and 
this brings them to the time of picking cotton 
and harvesting corn. 

Picking cotton is a very tedious and la- 
borious process, and everything that can move, 
or be spared, has to march to the cotton field. 
This plant will continue to bear as long as the 
frost keeps off, so that in warm seasons the 
field will have to be picked over half a dozen 
times. The picking and ginning of cotton 
occupies them till the 1st of February, often 
longer ; and this brings them to the putting 
in of the new crop. Thus, year in and year 
out, they pursue the same round of labor, till 
the arrival of old age renders them unable to 
continue in the fields. They are then put to 
take charge of the stock, or doing such out- 
work about the houses as they are able ; and 
in this way they pass their declining years, 
doing less and less, until, like an old clock, 
which is quite worn out, they stop altogether. 

Their work is regulated by no law, except 
that which relates to their being worked on 
11* 



126 SIX YEARS INT PRISON. 

Sunday, and being permitted to work for tliem- 
selves. In Hotchkiss' State Laws of Georgia, 
page 770, we find this, " If any person shall, on 
the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday, em- 
ploy any slave in any work or labor, every^ per- 
son so oifending shall forfeit and ]3ay the sum of 
ten shillings for every slave he, she, or they, 
shall so cause to work or labor." On page 
810, the law declares " If the owner, or own- 
ers, of any slave shall permit such slave, for a 
consideration or otherwise, to have, hold, 
and enjoy the privilege of laboring, or other- 
wise transacting business for him, her, or 
themselves, except on their own premises, 
such owner, or owners, shall, for every such 
weekly offense, forfeit and pay the sum of 
thirty dollars, except in the cities of Savannah 
and Augusta, and in the town of Sunbury." 

Neither does the law say anything about 
their food. The usual practice is, to give 
them half a pound of bacon, and a pound and 
a half of meal per day. I have known those 
who were large, strong, and hearty to receive 
more than this, and many who did not get half 
as much. Why a man cannot see that it is for 
his own interest to feed his slaves well, is more 
than I can comprehend ; and yet we know 
there are many souls too narrow to compre- 



LIFE IN SLAVERY. 127 

hend this, for do we not see liere at the North 
many who ill-treat and starve their cattle ? 

If there is a pitiful object to be found on 
earth, it is a poor, miserable, half-fed slave! 
Those on the rice plantations get no meat at all, 
from year's end to year's end. They are al- 
lowed a peck of rice per week. This food is 
varied in different States, where corn and ba- 
con are largely raised, and therefore cheap. 
They are then better fed than where these 
provisions are scarce, as in those sections 
where rice, cotton, and sugar are grown. 
These crops require the hardest labor, and 
they who work them ought to be the best 
fed; but it is far from being the case. This is 
cruel and unjust. 

The law makes no provision for their cloth- 
ing. They who hire slaves are obhged to give 
them one pair of negro kersey pantaloons, and 
a jacket of the same, two pairs of cotton pan- 
taloons, two shirts, one pair of shoes, a hat, 
and a blanket, a-year, and the female dress is 
in proportion. A good master will allow them 
this, but many do not, and they often s^ilfer 
greatly in cold weather. They are allowed 
no Sunday suit ; and they are compelled not 
only to buy this, if they have it, but often a 
good part of their other clothing, which they 



128 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

do by making small articles for sale. All bed 
and bedding thej get in the same way, if they 
have any ; but the most of them have no beds 
of any kind, ' They get generally, either by 
gift or purchase, the cast-off clothes of the 
whites. In this way, many of the females get 
articles of bedding, often so as to make up 
quite a comfortable bed. 

They live in cabins, which, being made of 
logs, are very open and airy. Wood is plenty 
in most j^laces — so at night they can keep warm. 
Those who have beds He on them, and those 
that have not, build a good lire, and all lie 
down — and always with the head to the fire. 
They will wrap their blankets round the head 
and shoulders, or creep, head foremost, into a 
bag or sack : for, like the ostrich, they seem 
to think if the head is covered, they are out 
of danger. 

A sarcastic remark made by John Randolph, 
truly illustrates the feeling and benevolence of 
the South, and also the condition of slaves in 
regard to clothing. A wealthy and Christian 
lady, whom he was once visiting in Virginia, 
spent all her eloquence in expatiating on the 
sufferings of the Greeks, for Avhom she was 
then engaged in making up clothing. On 
going to the door, he saw — what was, indeed, 



I 



LIFE IN SLAVERY. 129 

a common siglit — a bevy of about thirty 
young slaves, nearly naked. He started back, 
apparently in tke greatest horror, while his 
whole expression wrought itself into the cut- 
ting sarcasm — 

" Which, like a red-hot rapier, hurt two ways" — 

as, in that terrible voice, he exclaimed, '^ Be- 
hold ! the Greeks are at your door !" 



CHAPTER Xn. 

PUNISHMENT AXD MARRIAGE. 

The pimisKment of slaves is not defined by 
law. In tlie work of Hotclikiss, late referred 
to, page 770, is the following: " Punisliment 
of masters for abusing slaves. If any over- 
seer, or employer, of a slave, or slaves, shall 
cruelly treat such slave, or slaves, by unne- 
cessary or excessive whipping, by Avithhold- 
ing proper food and sustenance, by requiring 
greater labor from such slave, or slaves, than 
he, she, or they, are able to perform, or by not 
affording proper clothing, whereby the health 
of such slave, or slaves, may be injured and 
impaired, or cause, or permit the same to be 
done, every such owner or employer, shall be 
guilty of a mifidemeanor ; and on conviction, 
shall be punished by fine, or imprisonment in 
the common jail of the county, or both, at the 
discretion of the court." 

Every one must see, who can see at all, 
that this law amounts to nothing. IIow is a 
slave to prove that he is flogged too much, or 
fed too little? There is no one to witness his 



PUNISHMENT AND MARRIA(^E. 131 

wrongs. It is nonsense to pass a law for a 
man's protection, when the very thing he is 
protected from is not seen by any competent 
witness, and then compel him to prove it by a 
third party, who is, presumptively, opposed 
to his interest, and leagued with his enemy. 
This law will be just about as serviceable to 
the slave as that of olden time was to the Sa- 
lem witches. If one of that unfortunate class 
was suspected, he was thrown into a pond. 
If he sank, and thereby took a narrow chance 
of escape from drowning, he was innocent ; 
but if he floated, he was guilty — and was 
taken out, only to be hanged. So, guilty or 
innocent, they, for the most part, had to die. 
So of the slave : they pass a law to protect 
him from abuse, and then make another which 
deprives him of his oath ; and thereby of all 
means to prove that he is abused. Thus the 
law of protection is completely nullified, and 
there is no redress. 

The slaves are generally held in subjection 
by the lash. They know very well whom 
they have to deal with, and how far they can 
transgress without being called to account. If 
punishment follows disobedience with unerring 
certainty, they are cautious about infringing 
upon orders. But if threatening is often re- 



132 SIX YEARS IN PRISOX. 

sorted to, they soon discover that it is all 
wind ; and, inch by inch, they tear away the 
restraint, till they finally break over all 
bounds, and arouse the vengeance of their 
master, Avho inflicts on them severe and sum- 
mary punishment, which throws them back 
into order and obedience. 

The best managers of slaves are they who 
whip the least. They carry a firm, steady, 
and decided hand, never giving an order un- 
less it is to be executed. They speak in a 
firm and friendly manner, and sometimes joke 
with them. Such overseers and masters the 
slaves like. But if you wish to find a man 
whom the slaves hate, select one who is fickle 
and suspicious, — a Nero one day, and a lamb 
the next; or one who will hide around the 
fence, or behind the hedges, ditches, trees and 
stumps, to watch them ; or one who is forever 
ordering, blustering, finding fault and threat- 
ening. Each and all of these characters they 
despise, hate, and detest. 

Their punishment is always to be measured 
by the disposition, or sense of humanity, in 
their owners. When they are in the hands of 
cruel and unscrupulous men, what they sufter 
is awful to think of I I once heard the crack- 
ing of a whip, and the screeches of a female, 



PUNISHMEIST AND MAERIAGE. 133 

at tlie distance of a mile, for lialf an hour, 
without ceasing ! But kind men Avill neither 
inflict nor allow others to inflict severe punish- 
ment, except in extreme cases. Many will 
not keep such slaves as require to be Avhipped, 
but sell them. Yet this is wrong ; for they 
get very cruelly treated by being sold to bad 
men. It is almost incredible, and, yet it is 
true, that there are many who prefer vicious 
slaves, for the pleasure of breaking them down, 
as one would a horse. 

Mankind are much the same in all parts of 
the world. Kindness will always be recipro- 
cated, and inhumanity retaliated. If you 
wish men to do their dut}^, obey orders, and 
accomplish the most work with the least ex- 
pense and difiiculty ; treat them like men. 
Clothe them well, give them a plenty to eat 
and drink; and whatever punishment is 
adopted, let it follow disobedience without 
fail. In the army, navy, prisons, or among 
slaves, this is the only course that ever can 
succeed. 

Law and marriage have no necessary con- 
nection amiong the slaves. Their marriages 
are contracted at any age or time which they 
prefer ; and most of them have little idea of 
the sacredness or obligations of such a contract. 
12 



134 SIX YEAES IN PRISON. 

The circumstances under Avliicli they have 
always been led to view it, have naturally in- 
duced an obtuseness in regard to its moral 
character. AVhen two have come to an agree- 
ment of marriage, the man generally asks the 
permission of both their owners ; though there 
are thousands who marry otherwise, or live 
together without any ceremony. If both are 
willing there is no farther difficult}^ ; but if 
either objects, it cannot be carried into execu- 
tion. It matters not how strong may be their 
love, or how endearing their affection, if, as is 
often the case, the families are at variance, or 
one dislikes the slave of the other, one or 
both will put their veto on the subject. 

But if there is no objection, the marriage 
will be celebrated among themselves with 
great glee and hilarity. It is the common 
practice to arrange things so that the nuptials 
can be celebrated on Saturday night. They 
are great adepts at imitation ; and so far as 
their means will allow, they follow the course 
practiced among the whites. They choose a 
bridesmaid and bridegroom, and invite their 
companions to partake of their j oy . The bride 
cleans out her cabin, selects her best articles 
of dress, prepares the best supper she can 
command, and waits the arrival of her intend- 



PUNISHMENT AND MARRIAGE. 135 

ed. He generally arrives in company with 
the priest, who is an elderly negro, to whom 
they look with much respect. He is com- 
monly a member of some church. As they 
have no time to" spare, they at once proceed 
to have the knot tied. They take their places 
and the ceremony proceeds ; and though each 
may have one or two partners living, they 
again respond to the obligation to love and to 
cherish each other, until death shall part them. 
And though the priest himself may have two 
or three wives living, he pronounces the bind- 
ing clause — " What God hath joined together 
let not man put asunder," — it should be, let 
not masters put asunder. 

After the priest has given them an ex- 
hortation in his homely way, he closes with 
a prayer. Though he exhorts them always 
to abide together, he Avell knows they are 
liable to be separated the next day. And 
notwithstanding both of their masters have 
given their consent to the union, should 
either become dissatisfied, or should there be 
a removal of either to an inconvenient dis- 
tance, there must be a separation, unless, as is 
sometimes the case, where there is a strong 
attachment, and the slaves are particular fa- 
vorites, they can persuade their masters to sell 



186 SIX YEAKS IX PRISON. 

them. But wliere tliis is not the case, they 
often have several partners living at the same 
time ; for there is no divorce among slaves — 
their owm inclination — their master's will — or 
the intervention of space — being the only laws 
of divorce recognized among them. I have 
known only one case of recognized divorce, 
which was as follows. A middle-aged Xegro 
by the name of Jake was asked how many 
wives he had married. 

" I'se had five," he answered. 

" What 1 are they all dead ?" 

" No ; I reckon they's all 'live." 

" Have you got a divorce from them ?" 

" I has that." 

'' And how, I pray ?" 

" Why, you see, when I'se sold, I spec dey 
put it in de bill of sale ; for I never sees any 
more of Dina after that." 

" Well, Jake, you are popular among de 
women to get so many wives." 

'' Yes, I is; but I'se more pop'lar 'mong de 
men, kase they like me so well, they keep 
buyin me, and so gets all my wives away." 

A thought never crosses the slave's mind 
of being guilty of any sin or wrong, b}^ pur- 
suing such a course ; and I think there can be 
but little blame laid to his door. If a Church 



I 



PUNISH:\IEyT ANB MAERIAGE. 137 

decides tliat it is not only not wrong, but the 
duty of a slave to marry again, where a sepa- 
ration takes place,* how is it to be expected 
that the slave should see, or feel, any impro- 
priety in it ? The case of Jake illustrates the 
condition of a large majority of the slaves. 
How can it be expected that sound morals can 
exist among any people where such a state of 
things is upheld ? Can purity be clothed with 
its own proper sanctity in any society where 
early and subsequent impressions are made 
and confirmed b}^ precepts and examples like 
the above ? Can there be any such thing as 
chastity in a community where the whole 
course of life is a mighty temptation against 
it, where there are not only a thousand cor- 
rupting influences, but often strong com- 
pulsion, and an inexorable decree to humble 
it in the dust ; where woman is made a chattel 
in the hands of her owner, and is by law de- 
clared to be so, " to all constructions, intents, 
and purposes, whatsoever !" Let free women 
think of this ; and let no tongue defend fe- 
male slavery, that would not also defend pros- 
titution, rape, and compulsory incest. 

It is as often the case as not, that those who 

=* It was lately so decided by the Baptist Convention of 
Kentucky. 

12* 



188 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

are married live at such a distance from tlieir 
wives, that it is impossible for them to see them 
oftener than once a- week. A fter their Satur- 
day's work is done, they get a pass to go to 
their " wife's house." They are allowed to 
remain till Monday morning ; and if the dis- 
tance is from ten to twenty miles, they are 
allowed from sunrise till three hours after, to 
return in, according to the disposition of their 
owners. Sometimes their attachment is very 
strong, and they live happily together ; and 
they are generally very fond of their children. 
Some owners will not separate families, and 
often buy a husband or wife to prevent this. 
But the condition of most slaves is such that 
they can be with their families but a very 
little ; and their marriage is considered so 
slight a matter, that all who desire it, or be- 
come tired of their companions, cast off the 
obligation as they would an old shoe. And 
how often is it the case that those who desire 
to do well, and treat their families with all 
kindness, find it impossible to do so, from the 
fact of their being too widely separated? 
How can any man do by his family as he 
would like, who lives at the distance of ten 
or twenty miles, with no means of going back 
and forth but on foot, and no time for visits 



PUNISHMENT AND MARRIAGE. 139 

but between Saturday nigbt and Monday 
morning ? Is it possible for any man to fulfill 
the duties wbich devolve upon the bead of a 
family, and live in such a manner ? Can be 
cberisb bis wife in sickness and in bealtb ? 
Can be instruct bis cbildren in wbat is most 
essential to tbeir welfare ? Can be provide 
for tbe comfort and enjoyment of bis family ? 
Can be protect tbem from insult, or sbield 
tbem from injury ? Every one must see tbe 
utter impossibility of bis discharging tbe 
duties contemplated by marriage. 



CHAPTER XTIL 

SOCIAL AXD RELIGIOUS RESTEAIXT. 

In order to keep the slaves confined upon 
the plantation, and to prevent their meeting in 
bodies, the law has established a patrol. At 
l^age 813 of the work before quoted, we find 
this passage: " And as it is absolutely neces- 
sary to the safety of this province, that all 
due care be taken to restrain the wandering 
and meeting of Negroes, and other slaves, at 
all times, and more especiallj^ on Saturday 
nights, Sundays and other holidays, and their 
using and keeping mischievous and dangerous 
weapons, or using and keeping drums, horns 
or other loud instruments, which may call 
together, or give sign or notice to one another, 
of their wicked designs and intentions, and 
that all masters, owners and others, may be 
enjoined diligently and carefully to prevent 
the same : Be it enacted, that it shall be law- 
ful for any person, whomsoever, to apprehend 
and take up any Negro, or other slave, that 
shall be found out of the plantation of his or 
tlieir master or owner, at any time, especially 



aUCIAL AND RELIGIOUS RESTRAINT. 141 

on Saturday niglits, Sundays, or other lioli- 
daj^s, not being on lawful business, and with 
a ticket from their masters, or not having a 
white person with them ; and said slave or 
slaves, met or found out of the plantation of 
his or their master or mistress, though with a 
ticket, if he or they be armed with such offen- 
sive weapons aforesaid, him or them to disarm, 
take up and whip ; and whatsoever master, 
owner or overseer, shall permit or suffer his 
or their slave or slaves, at any time hereafter, 
to beat drums, blow horns, or other loud in- 
struments ; whoever shall suffer any public 
meeting or feasting of strange slaves in their 
plantation shall forfeit thirty shillings sterling 
for every such offense, upon conviction or 
proof as aforesaid." 

The Captain of the patrol is appointed by 
the Justice of the Peace ; and they are estab- 
lished in every militia district. The Captain 
chooses such men to assist him as he thinks pro- 
per, and he has power to call them out whenever 
he pleases. The law allows the patrol to go 
where they choose, — into any house, cabin, 
out-houses, or plantation, except those occu- 
pied by the Whites. They iisually ride in 
their nightly rounds; and to all the slaves 
they catch without a pass, which is a writ- 



142 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

ten permission to go and come, they give 
sucli punisliment as they please to inflict, 
though the law says they shall not exceed 
twenty lashes. 

If a slave is caught without a pass no one 
can protect him, not even his master. This 
law gives the patrol opportunities of punish- 
ing such slaves as they have a hatred against, 
if they can possibly catch them. Or should 
they have an ill feeling against the master, 
they will sometimes vent it upon the poor de- 
fenseless slaves. 

Those that are sly and cautious are the very 
ones they try the most to catch. Kothing 
pleases them better than to catch one that is 
smart and active, and always on the alert. 
Though he is doing no harm, they will try for 
months to get hold of him. They often find 
them in the cabins, courting their sweethearts. 
But one thus situated is like the Frenchman's 
flea, when you go to la}^ hold of him he is not 
there. He has vanished through some unseen 
aperture, or out of the window. This discom- 
fiture mortifies the patrol, and they will then lay 
all sorts of plans and traps to catch him, and if 
they succeed they are sure to pay him up for 
lost time. 

But the law does not have the effect that 



SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS RESTRAINT. 143 

was intended. It does not prevent tlieir night- 
walking to any great extent, for as the patrol 
grow more vigilant, they grow more cautious ; 
and by taking the woods, and cutting across 
the fields, and going along the by-paths, they 
accomplish their ends, without being caught. 
As the night season is their only time for 
wandering about, they have to adopt some 
plan to keep from getting lost. They make 
the stars their guide, and by practice are soon 
able to determine the location of all the sur- 
rounding plantations, to tell the principal 
points of the compass, and to designate the 
situation of any place they have been to, 
though probably they could not tell the Korth 
Star from one of the pointers. Men and wo- 
men like to stroll about at night. It seems to 
be one of their greatest pleasures ; and with 
the exception of Sunday, it is probably their 
greatest. They will travel a long way, and 
do with but little sleep, that they may indulge 
in this propensity. 

Once upon a time, when I was on the 
patrol, we walked up silently to a cabin, 
opened the door, and went in. There we 
found an old woman and her daughter, in 
earnest conversation with two other females. 
They had come a long distance to have a reg- 



144 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

ular confab. The slaves are great talkers. 
They have two families to talk about; and 
they must tell all the hopes, joys, and sorrows 
of each. We went in so suddenly upon them 
they w^ere taken by surprise. The two vis- 
itors were so frightened that they really 
turned pale ; and this change of countenance, 
from the usual dark color to a frightfidly livid 
hue, is much greater than any similar change 
in a white person. 

The captain ordered them out ; and as they 
were going through the yard, I was in the 
rear, and they fell back, and spoke to me in 
an under tone, to beg them off from a whip- 
ping. I was slightly acquainted with them ; 
and it was for this reason, doubtless, that they 
applied to me; for they did not know the 
others. Poor creatures ! they were only in- 
dulging in a little social chat, and were doing- 
no wrong! They had already been nearly 
frightened out of their wits; so I told the 
captain that as they were women, and it was 
the first time we had caught them, we ought 
to let them off. He made them promise to be 
more careful for the future. They thanked 
him heartily, and scampered for home with 
all possible expedition. 

The law makes no provision for the slave's 



SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS RESTRAINT. 145 

moral or religious culture, but one against it, 
at page 840 of Hotchkiss' Digest — " No per- 
son of color, whether free or slaA^e, shall be 
allowed to preach, to exhort, or join in any 
religious exercise, Avith any persons of color, 
whether free or slaA'es, there being more than 
seven persons present. They shall first ob- 
tain a written certificate from three ordained 
ministers of the Gospel, of their own order, 
in which certificate shall be set forth the good 
moral character of the applicant, his pious de- 
portment, and his abilit}^ to teach the Gospel, 
having a due respect to the character of those 
persons to whom he is to be licensed to preach ; 
such ministers to be members of the Confer- 
ence, Presbytery, Synod, or Association, to 
which the churches belong, in which said 
colored preacher may be licensed to preach, 
and also the written permission of the Justices 
of the Inferior Court of the County, and in 
counties in which the county town is incor- 
porated, in addition the}^ are to get the per- 
mission of the Mayor, or chief officers, or 
commissioners of such incorporation, such 
license not to be for a longer time than six 
months, and to be recoverable at any time by 
the persons granting it." 

Suppose the Disciple of Christ should be so 
13 



146 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

lucky as to pass the fiery ordeal, and get the 
certificate, and liberty to preach, of these 
three Ministers, and five Justices of the In- 
ferior Court, and also the Mayor, chief offi- 
cers, and the Commissioners — suppose he 
gets all these ; yet ho^Y is he going to " teach 
the Gospel with ability," after he has been 
brought up under the following law, page 772 
of the same work : " K any person shall teach 
any slave, negro, or free person of color, to 
read, or write, with written or printed charac- 
ters, or shall procure, sulfer, or permit, a 
slave, negro, or free person of color, to trans- 
act business for him in writing, such person, 
so offending, shall be punished by fine or im- 
prisonment in the common jail of the county, 
or both, at the discretion of the Court." 

I have heard it said that tAvo raj-s of heat 
can be thrown in such an angle as to produce 
cold, and that two rays of light can be so 
thrown together as to produce darkness ; but 
I never before knew, or heard, that a man 
could teach the Gospel with ability Avho could 
not read ! We are told that we must "search 
the Scriptures ; for they are they which tes- 
tify of me." What has the poor Indian done 
that he must be deprived of preaching, and 
not allowed to read, or write? The law is 



SOCIAL AND KELIGIOUS KESTRAINT. 147 

positive, and puts in no saying clause. It 
appears that Pope's words are not only true, 
but these legislators are determined to keep 
them so — 

" Lo, the poor Indian, whose untutored mind 
Sees God in clouds, and hears him in the wind, 
Whose soul proud Science never taught to stray. 
Far as°-the solar walk, or milky way." 

This law is not only unjust, but stands 
point blank against the Constitution of Geor- 
gia. In this Instrument, Article 4th, Section 
10th, we find, " ISTo person Avithin this State 
shall, upon any pretense, be deprived of the 
inestimable privilege of worshiping God, in 
a manner agreeable to his own conscience." 

The Constitution makes no distinction of 
class or color. Now the colored people, in- 
cluding Indians, free blacks and slaves, are 
'' persons ;" and it is " agreeable " for them to 
worship God without going to all the diffi- 
culty of getting the above certificate. A 
colored minister is as much worshiping God 
while preaching the Gospel, as his hearers are 
by listening. Suppose a law should be passed 
prohibiting white men from preaching, unless 
under the above restrictions, how long would 
they submit to it ? It must be evident to all, 



148 SIX YEAES IN PRISON. 

that under the above laws, the religion of the 
slave amounts to but little. He is not allowed 
to read ; the moral precepts of the Bible 
are not explained, and laid before him in 
such a way that his mind can grasp them. 
Thej arc ignorant and undisciplined as a 
race ; and the very book they ought to read, 
is as great a mj^stery to them as a Delphian 
Oracle. 

They have but few privileges for Divine 
Service, and, as a general thing, less inclina- 
tion ; but they are frequently brought to see 
the error of their ways, and are sometimes 
wrought up to the highest pitch of enthusi- 
asm, as most ignorant people are, under the 
same circumstances. They will shout, and 
scream, fall down, and roll about; and they 
often seem quite deranged for a day or two. 
At such times they are accused of acting 
" possum," and are frequently Avhipped. At 
times they appear to be perfectly subdued ; 
and then again they fell back into their old 
habits. As their religion is generally of an 
impulsive and intermittent character, so their 
conduct alternates between good and bad. 
There are some, however, who try to follow 
the path of virtue, and obey the precepts of 
the Bible as well as they know how. But the 



SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS EESTEAINT. 149 

greater part of tliem are as vicious and im- 
moral as their ignorance and degraded condi- 
tion can make them. 

A slave can have but little respect for reli- 
gion, when he sees those who profess to be 
governed by its benign influences, guilty of 
the most cruel and unjust treatment toward 
himself and his brethren. The slaves are not 
admitted into a Church unless they have a 
good moral character ; but it is not considered 
immoral for them to have several wives at the 
same time ; nor are they ever refused admis- 
sion on that account. 

Some are in the habit of calling their slaves 
in during family service. An anecdote is 
told of John Randolph, which illustrates the 
impulsiveness of manj^ of the Southern peo- 
ple. I had it from the Rev. F. Jacobs, Pro- 
fessor of Mathematics, in Oglethorp College, 
Georgia. Randolph was in the habit of pray- 
ing and preaching to his negroes. Just after 
he had one day concluded this exercise, he 
asked John, an old man of his, how he liked 
his preaching. 

" You preach bery fine, elegant — massa 
John !" he replied — " but I don't tink you 
preach so fine as Massa Jones!" 

" You G — d d — d rascal," retorted the mas- 
13* 



150 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

ter, '^ get out of tlie house ! If I can't preacli 

better than that d d old fool, I'll never 

preach again !" The person referred to — 
" Massa Jones" — was an ignorant old fellow, 
who could talk about nothing from morning 
till night ; and every one knows that Ean- 
dolph prided himself much on his learning ; 
and therein lay the point. 

The slaves are shrewd enough to see that 
when thc}^ are especially preached to, the 
texts happen to be selected from such portions 
of the Bible as may instruct them to obey 
their masters. From this has arisen the say- 
ing among slaves, that there is one part of the 
Bible for white folks, and another part for 
negroes. The master, not unfrequently, is, by 
his slaves, retorted upon, in a sly way, for 
hypocrisy, as evinced by his conduct towards 
them. One of these professors once called 
his slave when he was eating his dinner, and 
asked him why he was taking so much time. 

" Why you see, Massa, I was goin' by do 
Bible." 

"How so?" inquired the master. 

"Why, didn't you read lass' night, dat 
whatever thy hands find to do, do it with all 
thy might ?" 

The master saw that Tony had him, and 



SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS RESTRAINT. 151 

made no reply. They then started to the field 
to work ; but along towards night Tony got 
idle, and the master, thinking to " get his 
money back again," said : " Tony, you are not 
going by the Bible now." 

"Yes, I is;" returned the slave, with a 
knowing look. 

"How is that?" 

" Didn't you read toder night, that we 
mustn't haste to get rich, nor lay up riches on 
eajth?" 

"Well, well, Tony; that will do. Now 
hull out to work!" 

At another time when a slave had returned 
from meeting, his master asked him how he 
liked the sermon. 

"I don't like such sarmons at all, Massa, 
kase dey aint de trufe !" 

" What, you rascal ; you don't accuse the 
Minister of lying, do you ?" 

"I don't like to do dat, Massa; but he 
did'nt preach de trufe to-day, dat much is sar- 
tin:' 

" Well, let us hear how it is ?" 

Here the slave began to shy off, at a 
respectful distance, as he answered : " He say 
I can't sarve two massas — dat I would love 
de one, an' hate de other ! ^ Now, I serve 



152 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

you an' Massa Ben all my life; and 'e Lord 
knows I hate 3'ou bofe." 

Licentiousness is at its highest tide among 
the slaves of the South. Amalgamation, 
adultery, fornication, and incest, exist to a 
deplorable extent. There are no restraints 
whatever upon these crimes ; and I have 
never heard of their ever being reproved for 
the commission of them. The female slave 
has no inducement to be chaste — nay, she can 
have but a very dim and imperfect idea of 
what female purity is ; for she has been ac- 
customed to see a promiscuous cohabitation 
indulged in ; and her person is the only 
means by which she can gain favors, purchase 
presents, or buy indulgences of any kind. 
For such a course no finger of scorn is pointed 
at her. There is no society to disgrace, and 
none to ridicule her. To be the favorite of 
her master, his son, the overseer, or any white 
man — or even to be the mistress of a diiver, 
is- an honor ; and one so fortunate as she is 
considered, occupies a post of distinction, and 
preferment. 

But even without these monstrous abuses, 
where marriage is only a temporarj^ relation, 
which can be dissolved by the master's will, 
or at their own pleasure, it must be evident 



SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS RESTRAINT. 153 

to all, tliat continence cannot exist, unless by 
miracle. Every one can imagine the unpro- 
tected condition of a young female who is 
held in bondage. Every one must know that 
the flattery, notice, and attention which she 
finds paid to her, by one she has always 
been taught to look upon as her superior, 
would most naturally win her favors. And 
should advances be made to her which are re- 
pugnant to her wishes, in many cases she 
finds it impossible to resist those who solicit 
her regards. 

I know I may be told that she can appeal 
to her master or mistress for protection. I 
am aware of this ; and I have no doubt it is 
often done, and the assistance cheerfully ren- 
dered. But in case he who makes these ad- 
vances is of high standing, or a member of the 
family ; must she not dread the consequences 
of exposing him ? And to whom can she 
appeal, when the offender is her master him- 
self? This is an inevitable result of slavery. 
The sage legislators who made woman a chat- 
tel never expected she should preserve her 
yirtue — if they did, they must have been de- 
void of common sense — nay, more ; by mak- 
ing it criminal, as in all instances they 
have done, for a colored woman to lift her 



154 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

hand against a white man, they seem to have 
pointed every law, with a positive aim, to this 
verv result ! How can a chattel be brought 
under any kind of moral obligation ? And, 
if chattel slaves do lose all sense of right, it is 
no more than they have done Avho have 
brouofht them into that condition — it is no 
more than they do, who still forcibly retain 
them in it ! — The real guilt lies at the door of 
those who have knotted together these dark 
and deadly circumstances, into the web of 
iniquity we now behold — -and not only are 
these to be condemned, but they who continue 
— and they who assist in upholding the wrong 
— though it be but in the slightest manner — 
and even negativel}^ 

Does not this law of chattelhood place fe- 
male virtue in the hands of a man, giving 
him absolute power over her, without any of 
those safeguards, or restraints, which produce 
shame from detection, and the fear of punish- 
ment and disgrace — nay, more ; when the 
master is the suitor, she can never have any 
choice in the matter. 

It is one of the strongest impulses of our 
nature to adapt om-selves to surrounding cir- 
cumstances, so that we may be comfortable as 
the condition of things will allow. The con- 



SOCIAL AXD RELIGIOUS RESTRAINT. 155 

sequence is, that the female, when she finds 
herself attaining the age of womanhood, being 
naturally fond of display, wishing to make as 
good an appearance as possible, and seeing 
others violate the laws of virtue, which she is, 
in fact, almost, if not wholly unconscious of, 
it would be strange indeed, if she did not fol- 
low in the beaten path, in order to obtain 
such presents, dress, and ornaments, as her fa- 
vors will gain. That this is so, we see in the 
multiplying evidences of amalgamation, 
which are filling the whole South with a 
mixed race, where every shade of color is re- 
presented between the jet black of the African 
and Anglo-Saxon whiteness ; and yet all these, 
following the condition of the mother, are 
slaves. This will increase rapidly from year 
to year ; for the brightest mulattoes, or the 
lightest quadroons, are singled out for mis- 
tresses; and thus the slave population must 
undergo a rapid whitening — making it still 
more atrocious to hold them in bonds — not, 
indeed, because they are white, but because 
they are our own kith and kin — the very 
children and brethren of the enslaver ! 

There are those at the South, who deplore 
this awful result of slavery, feeling that it is 
one of the worst features of the system. But 



156 SIX YEARS IN PKISON. 

tHs is happy for the slave, and must eventu- 
ally be a means of restoring his liberty, for 
with the color they will have more of the 
character of the whites ; and as learning in- 
creases and light spreads farther and farther, 
they may have intelligence and force of char- 
acter enough to make their color a ticket of 
manumission ; yet none the less wrong and 
monstrous is the wickedness by which this 
happy change may be effected. 

There is nothing that will rouse the indig- 
nation of the Southern people sooner, than to 
witness the slavery, or bondage, or oppression 
of one who is, confessedly, a white man ; yet 
there are thousands of their slaves who are 
white as their own wives and daughters ! Is 
not this a burning proof that any one can be 
held as a slave if he is born so, though there 
may be nothing but the pure Anglo-Saxon 
blood in his veins. But will not the public 
sentiment itself come to act on this question, 
when intelligence and moral consciousness 
shall be more refined than they are ? 

The Southern people are brave and gene- 
rous, and ever ready to defend the cause of 
liberty, so flxr as the Whites are concerned. 
They took the most lively interest in the Hun- 
garian cause. Their hearts bled when they 



SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS RESTRAINT. 157 

heard tliat tliey liad been scattered like sheep 
before the Austrian wolves, and compelled to 
take to the mountain fastnesses, to the wilder- 
ness, and to voluntary exile. They mourned 
over the fate of Poland. They grieved to see 
her crushed, and their souls burned to hear 
how 

" Freedom shrieked when Kosciusko fell !" 

They were deeply interested in the fate of 
Greece, and would have poured out their thou- 
sands to assist her in the struggle for liberty. 
But here at home — at their own doors, and 
around their own firesides, are those who are 
as white as any of the Hungarioans, Poles, or 
Greeks ; yet they have no feeling for them ; 
for they are withholding the very right — the 
very freedom — they are so ready to bestow on 
others ! When will men learn to be consist- 
ent ? No wonder that consistency has been 
termed " a jewel I" 

If a free man cannot be made a slave be- 
cause he is white, how white must a slave be- 
come before he is free ? There are thousands 
now, who if the contest were to be decided by 
color, would become masters, and their mas- 
ters slaves. Duels have been fought and 
blood has been spilt by those who lay claim 
14 



158 SIX YEARS IX PRISOX. 

to the cognomen of " gentlemen," in order to 
settle disputes concerning which was the 
rightful claimant of some very slightly tinged 
white slave's affections. I have frequently 
been embarrassed on entering houses, by the 
difiiculty of distinguishing the servant from 
her mistress, in cases where the white servants 
are well-dressed ; and one unacquainted with 
the family would often be puzzled to know, at 
first sight, which is the mistress. 

I remember an instance of the kind, which 
occasioned great chagrin and mortification to 
all parties concerned. Several young men 
were spending an afternoon with some young 
ladies, and one of them was unacquainted 
with the family. Shortly after he arrived, a 
walk being proposed, he very gallantly 
marched up to one of the servants, and asked 
her if she would do hhn the honor to accept 
his company. 

It is not unfrequently the case that men 
live with their slaves, and rear up large fami- 
lies, without a thought of marriage; and I 
have no hesitation in saying that a large por- 
tion of the bachelors of the Southern States 
have remained so, by the power which they 
have over their female slaves. A great many 
do not treat their owii slave child hmi as thev 



SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS RESTRAINT. 159 

do others, but witli many tlie parental tie 
makes no difference ; for all natural right is 
obhterated by this remorseless evil. 

There are many, both in the South and at 
the Korth, who are always harping about N'e- 
groes liviDg on an equality with the Whites, 
asking how abolitionists would like to eat, 
ride, associate, or walk the streets arm in arm 
with them. " They who live in glass houses 
had better not throw stones at their neigh- 
bors' windows ;" and they who are not con- 
versant with things as they exist at the South, 
had better take a trip there, and they will be 
at no loss to discover that the two races have 
a more intimate association than any of the 
above. 



CHAPTER Xiy. 

THEFT — PROFANE SWEARING. 

A GREAT portion of the slaves are the most 
arrant liars, and the most abominable thieves ; 
and this charge is often brought against them 
by their masters as a proof of their innate 
depravity. But there are a great many pal- 
liations of these offenses. In the first place, 
their masters often speak falsely to them, and 
deceive them in various ways. I have often 
heard masters boast of the deceptions, stra- 
tagems and traps by which they have caught 
a runawa}^, or detected a thief. In the second 
place, they have but little except what they 
do steal ; for their masters are the consumers 
of all their earnings, except a bare subsistence. 
Is it wonderful that they should retaliate on 
their oppressors ? 

That they do act from this spirit, and Avith 
a consciousness of the wrongs they suffer, is 
shown from the flict that they are not half so 
apt to lie to, or about their brother slaves, as 
to their owners, overseers and . other white 
people. They are not more apt to betray 



THEFT. 161 

tlieir companions tlian we are. They are 
often whipped most unmercifully to compel 
them to betray their plots and plans. They 
will lie for themselves ; they lie for one ano- 
ther, but they will resort to every form of hy- 
pocrisy and artifice in order to deceive their 
masters ; and if they succeed, as they often 
do, they rejoice and boast of it as one of the 
smartest tricks. At such times, they exult in 
having paid up some old score, by which they 
had been entrapped or inveigled by their 
masters. 

" It is astonishing," say the masters, " what 
rascals they are ! The best of them will steal 
with the adroitness of foxes. Everything 
must be kept under lock and key, for watch 
them as long as you will, it is all to no pur- 
pose ; and the more th-ey are flogged for it, 
the more they will steal." But, gentle mas- 
ters, did you ever think how white men would 
behave if they were thus degraded — if all 
restraint of character, morality, honor and 
religion were taken off ? And did you never 
think how far worse crimes than those of 
which you complain, you have established by 
law, and sustain by law, the force of custom, 
and public opinion ? But if the slaves should 
ever get the upper hand, and enact a code of 
14* 



162 SIX YEARS IX PKISON. 

laws investing tlieft and falseliood with their 
highest legal sanction, and throwing around 
their jjerpetrators the strongest protection, 
would not these crimes become at the least 
as reputable as those which you practice 
and sustain, — manstealing, woman- whipping, 
adultery and incest ? Possibly, you never 
took this view of the case ! 

The slaves possess a great deal of cunning. 
This is the most useful weapon they can wield. 
It is truly wonderful to see the dexterity with 
which thej^ can parry the attempts of those 
who try to circumvent them. By long prac- 
tice they can detect the disposition and drift 
of those who wish to foil them, for every word, 
look, action, or glance, becomes legible to 
them. 

I will here relate an incident which illus- 
trates both their craftiness and their knowl- 
edge of human nature. One of my neighbors 
had a slave by the name of Big George. 
There was no match for him. lie seemed to 
bid defiance to all to catch him in stealing. 
At last he got so bold as to take a fine Berk- 
shire pig, such as were then selling at $10 
per head. The pigs Avere in a pen but a short 
distance from the house, in full sight of the 
whole white family, and about thirty slaves. 



THEFT. 163 

Yet, lie killed, dressed, cooked, and partly 
ate the pig, before any one knew that it was 
gone. 

As soon as it was missed, the man who had 
charge of them reported the loss to his master ; 
and after looking about the pen, and reflecting 
on the matter, they came to the conclusion 
that Big George had stolen it. They took the 
most decisive steps to recover it, and on going 
to his cabin they found it locked. They went 
to him and demanded his key, telling him 
what was suspected. With well feigned as- 
tonishment, and the most perfect coolness, he 
said, " W-h-a-t !" He could not have ap" 
peared more surprised if a thunderbolt had 
fallen from a cloudless sky and broken at his 
feet. He appeared to make all possible haste 
to find the key ; and after searching a long 
time, during which he was determining what 
course to pursue, though he had nothing to do 
but to put his hand in his pocket and pull out 
the key, he told them he had given it to ano- 
ther slave who had gone to the field, and that 
he would go and get it. By this means he 
hoped they would defer their searching till 
night, and by that time he would have it hid. 

But they told him they would break down 
the door. As soon as he heard this, he ran 



164: SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

and got a heavy piece of timber, to burst it 
open. In this he had a double design. He 
thought if he could display sufficient anxiety 
and readiness to help them, and a perfect in- 
difference about the destruction of his own 
property, that he might so impress them with 
his innocence, that they would desist ; or, if 
they should go on, and find the pig, they would 
not think him such a fool as to be so ready 
to convict himself. He came very near realiz- 
ing his first object, as the story will show. 

He made all haste to break down his own 
door. When they got inside, they found his 
box locked. Here again was the same diflS- 
culty. The key of this, also, was in the field. 
They told him that they must have it open. 
He ran for the axe to break it open with ; and 
all this time he was declaring, " They would 
soon see if he had de pig — dey would find out 
deir mistake after ruining all his things." 

While he was gone, a strong doubt in re- 
gard to his guilt was expressed by one of the 
party ; but the overseer said it was best to be 
certain, and into the box they went, notwith- 
standing this caution — and lo ! there lay the 
well-browned Berkshire, not quite so large as 
life, for it had shrunk some in the roasting, 
and was minus a quarter. They asked George 



PROFANE SWEARING. 165 

what that was. He ran up to the box in 
haste, and starting back, threw np both hands, 
and delivered himself of the following speech: 
" Good stars an' wonders ! dey is de meanest 
niggers on dis plantation I eber seed ! Dey 
lie ; dey cheat ; dey steal de Berkshire ; dey 
kill him ; dey put him in my box, an' den go 
tell massa I done it, jess to get me whipped ! 
Dey all clogged agin me, kase dey mad wid 
me! I knows nothing about de pig! I 
neber seed him 'fore !" 

I laugh while I am writing this, to think of 
his ludicrous gestures, and the deep earnest- 
ness he showed in making his defense, though 
it was full eight years ago. But the sequel 
was no laughing matter. It was too late for 
George to shufile out of the scrape. He was 
sentenced to receive a hundred lashes ; but 
even to the last, he never altered his assertion. 
AH. the time they were putting it on, he con- 
tinued to declare, "I neber seed de Berk- 
shire 'fore !" 

The slaves are much addicted to profane 
swearing — and, in fact, almost all of the 
southern people are, through the influence of 
the slaves: but still they think themselves 
perfectly innocent. This is another instance 
of the power of custom, and the force of edu- 



166 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

cation. They commit the Avorst of oaths in 
their common exclamations of wonder, sur- 
prise, admiration, or joy. Instead of saying: 
"My stars!" "Wonderful I" or even, "Good 
Lord!" they say, "Good God Almighty!" 
"Jesus Christ!" and they dwell on each word 
for about half a minute, so that it appears to 
one not accustomed to hear them, as if they 
v/ere trying to see how horribly they could 
swear. They learn this of the slaves, and 
grow up without a thought of its being other- 
wise than innoconk Members of churches 
think no more of using such expressions than 
they would of saying, " M}^ stars !" 

But, aside from these expressions, the slaves 
are much addicted to swearing, both male and 
female, young and old ; and I do not see how 
it can be otherwise — for those who occupy the 
same ground will always sink to the same level. 
Let any set of men, or an}^ nation, be sub- 
jected to the same condition that Africa has 
for the last two thousand years, and they will 
sink to the same degraded position. We hear 
instances, where i\.mericans have been en- 
slaved in Africa, and, in the short space of 
one year, they have forgotten every word of 
the English language : so true it is that " the 
moment man is made a slave, it takes half his 



CHAPTER XV. 

ESCAPE — AUCTION SALES. 

There are many slaves that run away, in 
all Slave States, and for all kinds of objects : 
some to get rid of work, some to escape pnn- 
isliment, some for ill treatment, and others to 
gain their liberty. There are trained dogs in 
all the Slave States, which are kept on pur- 
pose to track slaves who run away. They 
never allow these dogs to track anything else 
but negroes. 

The scenes which often take place on these 
occasions are heart-rending. The poor fugi- 
tive will run till he is nearly dead, and then 
take to a tree or the fence ; and when the dogs 
come up, they will be like so many wolves, so 
fierce are they to bite and tear the slave's 
flesh. When the men arrive, they order the 
slave to come down to the ground, and they 
let one or two of the best dogs bite him— but 
sometimes, when several of them are fierce, 
they tear him half to pieces, before they can 
be taken off. The next thing is to whip him, 
to make him tell who his owner is. If his 



1G8 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

master lives out of the county, they then take 
him to jail, and deHver him to the jailer. The 
jailer Avhips him as often as he pleases ; and, 
as he gets one dollar for each flogging, he 
generally is not slow to avail himself of his 
privilege. The laAV allows him 18| cents per 
day for feeding — that is to give him one quart 
of meal, or rice, per day. 

When his owner comes after him he gene- 
rally Avhips him ; and when he gets home, he 
gives him another ; so he gets plenty of whip- 
pings from all hands he falls into. 

The slave dares not resist any white man, 
no matter how much abused he may be ; and 
if he is tortured w^ith the most relined cruelty, 
it makes no difference ; if he resists, he docs 
it at his peril. 

The following is the law upon this subject. 
*'If any slave shall presume to strike any 
white person, such slave, upon trial, and con- 
viction before the Justice, or Justices, accord- 
ing to the direction of this Act, shall, for the 
first offense, suffer such punishment as the 
Justice, or Justices, shall in his, or their dis- 
cretion, think fit, not extending to life, or 
limb ; and for the second offense, suffer death ; 
but in case any such sUxve shall grievously 
wound, or bruise any white person, though it 



ESCAPE. 169 

shall be only the first offense, such slave shall 
suffer death." 

Every one can see how likely such a law is 
to be abused ; for if there is in the white man 
a very strong spirit of combativeness, he will 
first provoke the slave ; and then if he makes 
any considerable resistance, kill him, which 
he will be the more likely to do if he has any 
spite, malignity, or natural inclination to kill, 
in his character; and there are msinj en- 
gaged as slave drivers, and slave catchers, 
who have all these. I do not know that 
slaves can be kept in subjection, unless there 
is great power placed in the master's hands; — 
but is not this dehumanizing necessity — de- 
humanizing on both sides — one of the strong- 
est possible arguments against it? And how 
inconsistent, as well as unjust, is the whole 
system, we can see, by looking at the follow- 
ing fact. The slave, a poor, ignorant, undis- 
ciplined, and rudimental being, is expected to 
have all the forbearance on his side, while all 
the provocation, and abuse, come from the 
other. Is this right ; is it honorable ; is it 
humane ? There is such a contemptible 
meanness in trampling on weakness, that it is 
strange it does not strike them in that light. 
The very dog will not attack, or fight a dog 
15 



170 SIX YEAES IN PRISON. 

smaller than liimself ; and even when attack- 
ed by some pugilistic, but weaker brother, he 
repels the assault with a quiet dignity, that 
would feel itself less insulted by enduring the 
puny insolence, than by stooping to resent it. 
By all civilized nations it is considered both 
dishonorable, and mean, to insult or ill-treat 
a captive, or to strike the weak ai^d defense- 
less — especially if they be women. But here 
are gentlemen — gentlemen who, in all other 
resjDects, have the highest and the finest sense 
of honor, indulging in worse than savage 
treatment of the helpless, and doing acts 
which a Man would despise himself for com- 
mitting. The relation of master and slave 
makes no difference in this view of the case. 
One party is strong ; and the other is weak. 
One is armed, and well clad ; the other has 
nothing but his bare, and bleeding, and 
scarry breast, to shelter the quick heart 
which is now throbbing with the wildest 
emotions — now sinking like a stone with the 
deadliest sickness of fear ! I will say nothiug 
of the gentleman — but I say whoever has the 
magnanimity and self-respect of a common 
man — nay, of the lowest and meanest man 
aside from slavery, would no more strike that 
bleeding, prostrate, and quivering wn'tch, 



AUCTION SALES. 171 

than tie would pilfer pennies from a starving 
beggar. And supposing the slave were wo- 
man — Avoman writhing^ under the torturinof 
lash — woman chased bj blood-hounds ! Is it 
not too horrible to think upon, and are there 
any words to make it appear in all its true 
savageness — so loathsome that common hu- 
manity — common decency — sickens at the 
thought ! There are none. Thus truly and 
certainly does he who chattelizes man, in the 
worst, and most deplorable sense of the 
phrase, UXMAX himself. 

The sale of slaves is like that of any other 
property. They are bought and sold at any 
and all times. They are levied upon, and 
sold at auction, singly, or "in lots to suit 
purchasers," in the same manner as anything 
else. But of all heart-rending scenes I ever 
mtnessed, the sales of some families whose 
master had died, were the most terrible ! 
There they were all brought to the block, in 
the Court House yard of Thomaston. They 
stood by families. Some were old enough to 
have grandchildren, who had lived all the 
time on the same plantation. But that day 
was their last meeting as a family ! That day 
was to sever every link of union between 
them — paternity — maternity — fraternal ties — 



172 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

and all the endearments of familiar affection 
and love, were laid on the block, to be sold 
to the highest bidder ; and when the hammer 
fell the sound smote like a death-blow through 
every heart ! Cowper has truly said, that 
they were 

" Denied, though sought with tears, the sad relief 
That misery loves, the fellowship of grief." 

And he might have added that it was sought 
with cries, prayers, and lamentations. 

You could see them running with frantic 
cries, entreating every one whom they thought 
they could impress, to buy them and their fa- 
milies. They would stand clasped in each 
other's arms, giving vent to floods of tears, 
and incessant cries ! They seemed to feel the 
painful reality of separation, as if that were 
their last embrace. 

As soon as the sale commenced, and one of 
a family was struck off, each other member of 
the family would run in haste, and with cries, 
sobs, and prayers, beg that he would buy 
the whole family; nor would they leave 
him until an answer of some kind had been 
extorted. K in their favor, they would seem 
to burst their souls with gratitude, to shower 
it upon the promised 2)urchaser. But if in the 



AUCTION SALES. 173 

negative, tlieir cries and sobs would ring in 
the ears of all ; and the torrent of sighs and 
groans would burst out from their tortured 
bosoms, with the deepest anguish and de- 
spair. 

As soon as they see one struck off, and find 
that the purchaser will take no more, they all 
cry out : " One is gone !" " Oh ! one is gone !" 
with the most woful looks and gestures that 
could be conceived. 

They are all, men, women, and children, 
subjected to the rude gaze, the handling and 
examination of the spectators. At such times 
they are ordered to keep still and quiet, and 
if they do not they are threatened with 
punishment ; but if they are quiet and lively, 
and try to make the best appearance, they are 
promised a reward. But their family love is 
too strong, and their endearment too great 
for them to suppress the anguish they feel on 
being separated, even if they have the stimu- 
lus of promised reward or punishment to as- 
sist them. 

Ko ; they cannot stifle the maternal yearn- 
ings of the human heart ! In defiance of all 
constraint, all hope, and all fear, it gushes out 
in tones of praj^erful supplication ! " Give 
me my dear children ! I want nothing more." 
15* 



174 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

If any one would feel the power and truthful- 
ness of the following lines of Mrs. Hemans, 
they must witness an auction of slaves : 

" There is none 
In all this cold and hollow world, no fount 
Of deep, strong devoted love, save that 
Within a Mother's heart." 

There stood the mother, surrounded by her 
children, all sobbing in wild despair ! Close 
beside her stood her own mother, wringing 
her hands, with the tears streaming down 
from her aged and furrowed cheeks, her an- 
guish almost too keen for utterance, between 
her sighs and tears sobbing out, " 0, why did 
massa die ? All is gone — gone. And must 
we live together no more ? No ; all is gone." 

I could endure this no longer. It was too 
heart-rending. And there Avere those who 
held slaves who could not look upon the 
sight. There are many who will not separate 
families; but others are so hardened that it 
makes no difl'erence whatever. 

There are many who seem to care very 
httle about being sold. Thc}^ have no family 
ties; they may be abused by their present 
owner, and therefore have little or nothing to 
lose ; while, on the other hand, they may 
better their condition bv the chanw. 



AUCTION SALES. 175 

At these sales tlie most cruel and inliiimaii 
deception is often practiced. If there is a 
likely man or woman, whom they are going 
to carry a long distance from their family, 
they get some one that is acquainted with 
them to bid them off. They are then taken 
to some place till they are ready to start. 
They and their famih^ are told that they are 
going to be carried only a few miles, and the 
first thing each party knoAvs, they are separated 
for life, Avithout the miserable consolation of 
saying, "Farewell." Noav, this is done by 
the purchasers to save their own feelings. 
Their o\yii nature cannot endure to behold 
the anguish and despair, nor listen to the cries 
and groans of hearts thus ruthlessly torn 
asunder ! 

Those Avho make the trade in negroes a 
profession, train them as they would horses. 
They teach them to talk lively and free, in- 
struct them what to say, hoAV to act, how 
they must stand, walk and l(3ok, hire them to 
jump about, act spry, and make the best ap- 
pearance possible. They often make an agree- 
ment to give them a certain sum if they aa^II 
" act the agreeable," so as to bring a particular 
price. 

The folio win o- are the cases in Avhich a 



176 SIX YEAES IN PRISON. 

slave suffers deatli : — Insurrection, or an at- 
tempt to excite it ; rape, or an attempt on a 
white female ; murder of any person, or poi- 
soning any one ; for the second offense of 
striking a white person ; or grievously wound- 
ing, bruising or maiming any one, the first 
offense; setting fire to any house in which 
any persons live, and for circulating any in- 
cendiary documents, that may cause an insur- 
rection, conspiracy, or resistance among the 
slaves. All so offending are doomed to suffer 
death. 

The slaves are not allowed to hold any pro- 
perty of consequence. They are not allowed- 
to keep boats, books, stationery, or fire-arms 
of any sort, to rent houses, or, in short, to 
hold any property except fowls, pigs and the 
like. They are not to be employed in print- 
ing offices, nor as druggists and apothecaries. 
They are prohibited from holding meetings ; 
any weapons found upon them can be seized, 
and they are not allowed to read or write, or 
to assemble for the purpose of religious wor- 
ship. 



CHAPTER XYL 

AMUSEMENTS. 

Under all these restrictions, privations, re- 
straints and wrongs, it must be evident to all, 
that the slaves can have but little time or op- 
portunity for amusement ; but where they 
have a chance they make the best possible 
use of it. They most emphatically " Throw 
dull care away," and enter into their sports 
with every demonstration of joy. 

They are generally allowed to make such 
use of Sunday as they please. Some hunt ; 
others fish ; some work for themselves ; some 
go to see their friends ; some sleep all day, 
and a few go to meeting. Their principal 
sports are Log-rolling, Corn Shucking, or what 
the Northern farmers call Husking, and at 
Christmas. The log-rollings and shuckings 
are always participated in by the whites. 
These sports are episodes in their lives. They 
are like oases to the weary traveler of the 
desert ; they help to enliven the sad journey 
of life ; they are faint rays that shine over 
their dark voyage, and enable them to keep 



178 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

their course; they are stars whicli relieve 
them from eternal night. 

Log-rollings are commonly in vogue during 
the winter season. After a farmer has cleared 
a piece of land, and gathered all but the large 
logs, he gives an invitation to his neighbors 
to come and help him roll the remaining logs 
into large piles, for the purpose of being burnt. 
They go by the principle that many hands 
make light work. They all accept the invita- 
tion with pleasure. The white men will go, 
and take two or three of their slaves ; and by 
the time all have arrived there will be quite a 
collection. 

They take a hand-spike, about four or five 
feet long, to lift, carry, and roll the logs with. 
Every one, whether black or white, strives to 
excel the others in feats of activity and 
strength, and' especially jokes. To the one 
that can "tote" the largest log, lift the 
heaviest butt, or roll the log the highest on 
the pile, is awarded the palm. They always 
have a plenty of whisky, or peach brandy, 
to make them lively. They are full of sport 
and fun, and bandy round all kinds of jokes. 

They generally so arrange matters, as to get 
done before night, when they take up their 
line of march for the house ; and, on arriving 



AMUSEMENTS. 179 

there, take a drink all round. Tlien com- 
mence tlieir gymnastic exercises. They wres- 
tle, jump, and run foot-races. Black and 
white all take part in the sport, and he who 
comes off victorious has an extra sip of the 
" white eye." After indulging in these exer- 
cises as long as they wish, some one calls for 
a i&ddle — ^but if one is not to be found, some 
one " pats juber." This is done by placing one 
foot a little in advance of the other, raising 
the ball of the foot from the groand, and 
striking it in regular time, while, in connec- 
tion, the hands are struck slightly together, 
and then upon the thighs. In this way they 
make the most curious noise, yet in such per- 
fect order, it furnishes music to dance by. 
All indulge in the dance. The slaves, as they 
become excited, use the most extravagant 
gestures — the music increases in speed — and 
the Whites soon find it impossible to sustain 
their parts, and they retire. This is just what 
the slaves wish, and they send up a general 
shout, which is returned by the Whites, ac- 
knowledging the victory. 

Then they all sing out, 

"Now show de white man what we can 
do !" 

And with heart and soul they dive into 



180 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

the sport, until tliey fairly exceed themselves. 
It is really astonisidng to witness the rapidity 
of their motions, their accurate time, and the 
precision of their music and dance. I have 
never seen it equaled in my life. 

After the dance is over, they all take sup- 
per, and start for home, well pleased with 
their sport. 

But the shucking frolic is considered by 
them as a far greater jubilee. A farmer will 
haul up from his field a pile of corn from ten 
to twenty rods long, from ten to twenty 
feet wide, and ten feet high. This pile con- 
sists of nothing but ears. They always break 
the ears from the stalk, and never cut it at the 
ground, as the Northern farmers do. It is so 
arrano^ed that this can be o;i a moonlis^ht 
evening. The farmer then gives a general 
"invite" to all the young ladies and gentle- 
men in the neighborhood, to come and bring 
their slaves ; for it takes no small number to 
shuck such a pile of corn. 

The guests begin to arrive about dark, and 
in a short time, they can be heard in all di- 
rections, singing the plantation songs, as they 
come to the scene of action. When they have 
all arrived, the Host makes the following pro- 
positions to his company, " You can shuck the 



AMUSEMENTS. 181 

pile, or work till eleven o'clock, or divide the 
pile and the hands, and try a race." 

The last offer is generally accepted. Each 
party selects two of the shrewdest and best 
singers among the slaves, to mount the pile 
and sing, while all join in the chorus. The 
singers also act the part of sentinels, to watch 
the opposite party — for it is part of the game 
for each party to try to throw corn on the 
other's pile. 

As soon as all things are ready, the word is 
given, and they fall to work in good earnest. 
They sing awhile, then tell stories, and joke 
and laugh awhile. At last they get to making 
all the diiferent noises the human voice is capa- 
ble of, all at the same time — each one of each 
party doing his best to win the victory. One 
unacquainted with such scenes would think 
that Bedlam had broken loose, and all its in- 
mates were doing their best to thunder forth 
their uproarious joy. 

This is continued till the task is finished. 
They have plenty of liquor to keep up the 
excitement. 

The victorious party peal forth their shouts 

and jests in a deafening volley, and the negroes 

seem fairly beside themselves. They jump, 

roll, and tumble about, as though " kingdom 

16 



182 SIX YEARS IX PRISON. 

come" was already in their possession. As 
soon as the pile is finished, the slaves keep a 
sharp eye on the Host, lest he should slip out 
of their sight, and get to the house ; for it is 
a rule with them at corn-shuckings, always to 
tote* their Host to the house, on their heads ; 
and the moment he gives the word to proceed 
to the house, he expects his doom — and, by 
dodging and running, he tries to escape it. 
But a dozen stalwart negroes pounce upon 
him, and it is always understood that he is not 
to hurt them, but prevent them, if he can, by 
wrestling and running ; but when the negroes 
get their iron gripe on him, it is useless to 
struggle. If he should get angry, it Avill make 
no difference ; the masters of the slaves will 
run to their rescue, and order them to seize him ; 
and nothing suits them better than this. They 
lay hold of him, and down he comes, and on 
to their heads he goes, in just no time at all ; 
and they bear him off in triumph to the house, 
where he receives the jokes and gibes of the 
young ladies, and of his family. 

On arriving at the house they find that the 
young ladies have not been idle ; for the long 
tables smoke and groan with the loads of 
poultry, pigs, and all kinds of eatables, which 

* See Webster. 



AMUSEMENTS. . 183 

would make a Lord Mayor and all his Alder- 
men smile with, a peculiar emphasis. They 
sit down to the table with the appetites of al- 
ligators ; for they have been sharpened by ac- 
tive exercise, and by the play of good humor 
and jokes, that have circulated freely all the 
while. After each one has hid no inconsider- 
able portion of what was before him, they rise 
from the table with the roundness of a drum, 
and the tightness of one of its heads. 

As soon as the table is cleared the girls 
give a wink ; and in a trice the room is strip- 
ped of every thing but the bed. Two or 
three men take hold of this, and set it out of 
the room. The negro fiddler then walks in ; 
and the dance commences. After they have 
enjoyed their sport sufiiciently, they give way 
to the negroes, who have already supplied 
themselves with torch-lights, and swept the 
yard. The fiddler walks out, and strikes up 
a tune ; and at it they go in a regular tear- 
down dance ; for here they are at home. The 
sound of a fiddle makes them crazy ; and I do 
believe that if they were in the height of an 
insurrection, and any one should go among 
them, and play on a violin, they would all be 
dancing in five minutes. I never saw a slave 
in my life but would stop as if he were shot 



184 SIX YEARS IX TRISOX 

at fho sonnd of a fiddle ; and if he has a load 
of two hundred pounds on his head, he will 
begin to dance. One would think thej had 
steam engines inside of them, to jerk them 
about with so much power ; for they go 
through with more motions in a minute, than 
you could shake two sticks at in a month ; 
and of all comic actions, ludicrous sights, and 
laughable jokes, and truly comic songs, there 
is no match for them. It is useless to talk 
about Fellows' Minstrels, or any other band 
of merely artificial "Ethiopians;" for they 
will bear no comparison Avith the plantation 
negroes. The latter, by frequenting these 
places of amusement in the capacity of enter- 
tainers, become actors, and that of a high 
order, for in this way they cultivate the 
faculties most necessary to success in that pro- 
fession — ideality, marvelousness, and imita- 
tion — all of which greatly predominate in the 
negro character; while tune or the sense of 
harmony bears off the palm ; for if there is a 
people whom, above all others, the gods them- 
selves have made musical, they are entitled to 
the distinction. They hold the mirror up to 
nature; nay, it is nature's self displayed so 
fully, and with sucli graphic power, that in 
spite of himself the gravest will burst out in 



AMUSEMENTS. 185 

the most uproarious laughter. Thej keep up 
the dance till all are fairly tired out, and then 
disperse for their homes. 

But Christmas is their time of times. They 
are generally allowed several days at Christ- 
mas, from two to seven, according to the dis- 
position of their masters. They all have to 
do something special for this carnival. They 
get leave to plant a little patch of cotton, corn, 
rice, tobacco, pease, potatoes, or whatever they 
choose. Some make brooms, mats, tubs, pails, 
chairs, or horse-collars; and they have all 
these for sale about Christmas. Their plans 
are all matured beforehand. Some go to see 
their relations ; some to parties ; some to 
dances ; some to one place, and some to an- 
other; and some go nowhere, have nothing, 
care for nothing, and get nothing. Some lay 
up their money ; some drink it up ; some 
gamble it awa}^; and some buy themselves 
clothes. 

They spend the time as they please, till the 
period expires for which their pass was given. 
They know that this is their greatest time, 
and they make the most of it ; and having 
staid till the last moment, they return to take 
their stations of labor, and begin a new year's 
work. 



186 SIX YEARS IN PRISON. 

Thus, year in and year out, they go through 
with the same monotonous course, till old age 
brings them to the grave. There are no ce- 
remonies At the death and burial of a slave. 
He is nailed up in a rough box by his brother 
slaves, and is generally buried a few hours after 
death. Thus pass away those who have spent 
their lives in the service of others ; and their 
graves are not often wet by the tears of those 
for whom they have always labored. Such is 
slavery, as it exists in our Southern States ; 
and so it would be everywhere in the North, 
East or West; they would all pursue, sub- 
stantially, the same plan, were they slave- 
holders. The Southerners treat their slaves 
as well, assume no more authority, nor are 
they any more exacting than others Avould be. 
So long as chattel slavery exists on earth, so 
long will the above abuses exist. It is non- 
sense to talk about correcting the abuses of 
slaverv, for they will and must exist, as long 
as the institution remains. To undertake this 
is precisely like an attempt to make a drunken 
man act and talk as "though he were sober. 
Truth, Justice and Reason mil make them 
sober, and then they will abolish it, and its 
abuses will cease. 

I cannot close better than by giving the 



AMUSEMENTS. 187 

words of the greatest cliampion and defender 
of the morality of slaveholding the South 
ever knew, — the Reverend Richard Fuller, 
of South Carolina. He says, " I do not con- 
sider its perpetuation proper^ if it be possible. 
Nor let any one ask, why not perpetuate it, if 
it be not a sin ? The Bible informs us what 
man is ; and among such beings, irresponsible 
power is a trust too easily and too frequently 
abused." 






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